Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Nov 14, 5:14 AM 1 min 19° 19° above S 10° above SSE  
Tue Nov 19, 7:26 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above SW 10° above SW  
Wed Nov 20, 6:38 PM 2 min 29° 10° above SSW 29° above SSE  
Thu Nov 21, 5:51 PM 4 min 18° 10° above S 14° above E  
Thu Nov 21, 7:27 PM < 1 min 18° 18° above WSW 18° above WSW  
Fri Nov 22, 6:39 PM 2 min 83° 23° above SW 82° above N  
Sat Nov 23, 5:50 PM 5 min 54° 16° above SSW 18° above ENE  
Sat Nov 23, 7:27 PM < 1 min 14° 12° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Sun Nov 24, 6:40 PM 2 min 33° 22° above WNW 31° above N  
Mon Nov 25, 5:52 PM 3 min 52° 38° above W 16° above NE  
Mon Nov 25, 7:28 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NW 10° above NW  
Tue Nov 26, 6:39 PM 3 min 18° 10° above WNW 18° above NNW  
Wed Nov 27, 5:51 PM 4 min 24° 15° above WNW 12° above NNE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2019 through Thursday Nov 28, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Nov 1, 5:03 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above NE 11° above NE  
Fri Nov 1, 6:37 AM 3 min 20° 19° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Nov 2, 6:06 AM 2 min 20° 20° above N 10° above NNE  
Sun Nov 3, 4:34 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above NNE 11° above NNE  
Sun Nov 3, 6:09 AM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 11° above NNE  
Mon Nov 4, 5:37 AM 3 min 14° 13° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Nov 5, 5:06 AM 2 min 14° 14° above N 10° above NNE  
Wed Nov 6, 4:35 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Wed Nov 6, 6:09 AM 4 min 16° 11° above NNW 11° above NE  
Thu Nov 7, 5:37 AM 4 min 15° 11° above NNW 10° above NE  
Fri Nov 8, 5:06 AM 2 min 15° 15° above N 11° above NE  
Sat Nov 9, 4:35 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above NNE 10° above NE  
Sat Nov 9, 6:09 AM 5 min 32° 10° above NW 23° above ENE  
Sun Nov 10, 5:37 AM 4 min 28° 18° above NNW 18° above ENE  
Mon Nov 11, 5:06 AM 2 min 25° 24° above N 17° above ENE  
Tue Nov 12, 4:35 AM 1 min 19° 19° above NE 13° above ENE  
Tue Nov 12, 6:09 AM 5 min 73° 15° above WNW 23° above SE  
Wed Nov 13, 5:38 AM 3 min 88° 39° above NW 23° above SE  
Thu Nov 14, 5:07 AM 2 min 62° 62° above E 19° above ESE  
Fri Nov 15, 4:36 AM 1 min 22° 22° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Fri Nov 15, 6:10 AM 4 min 16° 13° above WSW 10° above S  
Sat Nov 16, 5:39 AM 2 min 20° 20° above SW 10° above S  
Sun Nov 17, 5:08 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above S 11° above S  
2019-11-14 10:14:00.0,Thu Nov 14, 5:14 AM,1 min,19°,19° above S,10° above SSE|2019-11-20 00:26:00.0,Tue Nov 19, 7:26 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SW,10° above SW|2019-11-20 23:38:00.0,Wed Nov 20, 6:38 PM,2 min,29°,10° above SSW,29° above SSE|2019-11-21 22:51:00.0,Thu Nov 21, 5:51 PM,4 min,18°,10° above S,14° above E|2019-11-22 00:27:00.0,Thu Nov 21, 7:27 PM,< 1 min,18°,18° above WSW,18° above WSW|2019-11-22 23:39:00.0,Fri Nov 22, 6:39 PM,2 min,83°,23° above SW,82° above N|2019-11-23 22:50:00.0,Sat Nov 23, 5:50 PM,5 min,54°,16° above SSW,18° above ENE|2019-11-24 00:27:00.0,Sat Nov 23, 7:27 PM,< 1 min,14°,12° above WNW,14° above WNW|2019-11-24 23:40:00.0,Sun Nov 24, 6:40 PM,2 min,33°,22° above WNW,31° above N|2019-11-25 22:52:00.0,Mon Nov 25, 5:52 PM,3 min,52°,38° above W,16° above NE|2019-11-26 00:28:00.0,Mon Nov 25, 7:28 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NW,10° above NW|2019-11-26 23:39:00.0,Tue Nov 26, 6:39 PM,3 min,18°,10° above WNW,18° above NNW|2019-11-27 22:51:00.0,Wed Nov 27, 5:51 PM,4 min,24°,15° above WNW,12° above NNE|

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn’t have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm’s length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton