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Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 19, 6:05 AM < 1 min 11° 10° above SSE 11° above SE  
Fri Feb 21, 6:05 AM 4 min 34° 10° above SSW 31° above ESE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:18 AM 3 min 20° 12° above S 19° above ESE  
Sun Feb 23, 4:33 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Sun Feb 23, 6:06 AM 6 min 75° 12° above WSW 10° above NE  
Mon Feb 24, 5:21 AM 3 min 61° 52° above S 20° above ENE  
Tue Feb 25, 4:36 AM < 1 min 21° 21° above E 18° above E  
Tue Feb 25, 6:09 AM 5 min 30° 16° above W 10° above NE  
Wed Feb 26, 5:23 AM 3 min 45° 45° above NNW 11° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:38 AM < 1 min 17° 17° above NE 12° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 6:11 AM 4 min 17° 11° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Fri Feb 28, 5:25 AM 3 min 22° 22° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sat Feb 29, 4:40 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above NNE 10° above NE  
Sat Feb 29, 6:13 AM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Mar 1, 5:26 AM 2 min 14° 14° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Mon Mar 2, 4:41 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above NNE 10° above NNE  
Mon Mar 2, 6:16 AM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Mar 3, 5:28 AM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Feb 14, 2020 through Tuesday Mar 3, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Feb 21, 6:23 AM 4 min 45° 10° above SSW 39° above ESE  
Sat Feb 22, 5:50 AM 4 min 36° 10° above SSW 33° above ESE  
Sun Feb 23, 5:20 AM 3 min 29° 18° above S 25° above ESE  
Mon Feb 24, 4:49 AM 2 min 24° 24° above SE 18° above E  
Mon Feb 24, 6:24 AM 6 min 43° 10° above WSW 11° above NE  
Tue Feb 25, 4:19 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above E 13° above E  
Tue Feb 25, 5:53 AM 5 min 51° 24° above W 10° above NE  
Wed Feb 26, 5:22 AM 4 min 61° 59° above NW 10° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 4:52 AM 2 min 33° 33° above NE 11° above NE  
Thu Feb 27, 6:26 AM 5 min 19° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Fri Feb 28, 4:21 AM < 1 min 16° 16° above NE 10° above NE  
Fri Feb 28, 5:55 AM 4 min 20° 15° above NW 10° above NNE  
Sat Feb 29, 5:24 AM 3 min 22° 22° above NNW 10° above NNE  
2020-02-19 11:05:00.0,Wed Feb 19, 6:05 AM,< 1 min,11°,10° above SSE,11° above SE|2020-02-21 11:05:00.0,Fri Feb 21, 6:05 AM,4 min,34°,10° above SSW,31° above ESE|2020-02-22 10:18:00.0,Sat Feb 22, 5:18 AM,3 min,20°,12° above S,19° above ESE|2020-02-23 09:33:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 4:33 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above ESE,10° above ESE|2020-02-23 11:06:00.0,Sun Feb 23, 6:06 AM,6 min,75°,12° above WSW,10° above NE|2020-02-24 10:21:00.0,Mon Feb 24, 5:21 AM,3 min,61°,52° above S,20° above ENE|2020-02-25 09:36:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 4:36 AM,< 1 min,21°,21° above E,18° above E|2020-02-25 11:09:00.0,Tue Feb 25, 6:09 AM,5 min,30°,16° above W,10° above NE|2020-02-26 10:23:00.0,Wed Feb 26, 5:23 AM,3 min,45°,45° above NNW,11° above NE|2020-02-27 09:38:00.0,Thu Feb 27, 4:38 AM,< 1 min,17°,17° above NE,12° above NE|2020-02-27 11:11:00.0,Thu Feb 27, 6:11 AM,4 min,17°,11° above WNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-28 10:25:00.0,Fri Feb 28, 5:25 AM,3 min,22°,22° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-02-29 09:40:00.0,Sat Feb 29, 4:40 AM,< 1 min,15°,15° above NNE,10° above NE|2020-02-29 11:13:00.0,Sat Feb 29, 6:13 AM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-03-01 10:26:00.0,Sun Mar 1, 5:26 AM,2 min,14°,14° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-03-02 09:41:00.0,Mon Mar 2, 4:41 AM,< 1 min,13°,13° above NNE,10° above NNE|2020-03-02 11:16:00.0,Mon Mar 2, 6:16 AM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-03-03 10:28:00.0,Tue Mar 3, 5:28 AM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° 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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

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