Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 14, 2020 through Tuesday Sep 29, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Sep 15, 8:59 PM 2 min 24° 10° above SSW 24° above S  
Wed Sep 16, 8:12 PM 4 min 20° 11° above S 16° above E  
Wed Sep 16, 9:48 PM 1 min 17° 10° above WSW 17° above W  
Thu Sep 17, 9:01 PM 4 min 73° 10° above WSW 51° above NNE  
Fri Sep 18, 8:13 PM 6 min 64° 10° above SW 11° above ENE  
Fri Sep 18, 9:52 PM < 1 min 19° 18° above NW 19° above NW  
Sat Sep 19, 9:05 PM 2 min 29° 24° above WNW 22° above NNE  
Sun Sep 20, 8:18 PM 4 min 43° 34° above WNW 10° above NE  
Sun Sep 20, 9:55 PM < 1 min 13° 11° above NW 13° above NNW  
Mon Sep 21, 9:07 PM 2 min 17° 15° above NW 14° above N  
Tue Sep 22, 8:20 PM 3 min 21° 19° above NW 11° above NNE  
Tue Sep 22, 9:57 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Wed Sep 23, 7:35 PM 1 min 19° 19° above NNE 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:10 PM 2 min 13° 10° above NNW 12° above N  
Thu Sep 24, 8:22 PM 3 min 14° 11° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 7:34 PM 4 min 17° 14° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:12 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above N  
Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 7:37 PM 3 min 12° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:14 PM 1 min 14° 11° above NNW 14° above N  
Mon Sep 28, 8:27 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 12° above NNE  
2020-09-16 00:59:00.0,Tue Sep 15, 8:59 PM,2 min,24°,10° above SSW,24° above S|2020-09-17 00:12:00.0,Wed Sep 16, 8:12 PM,4 min,20°,11° above S,16° above E|2020-09-17 01:48:00.0,Wed Sep 16, 9:48 PM,1 min,17°,10° above WSW,17° above W|2020-09-18 01:01:00.0,Thu Sep 17, 9:01 PM,4 min,73°,10° above WSW,51° above NNE|2020-09-19 00:13:00.0,Fri Sep 18, 8:13 PM,6 min,64°,10° above SW,11° above ENE|2020-09-19 01:52:00.0,Fri Sep 18, 9:52 PM,< 1 min,19°,18° above NW,19° above NW|2020-09-20 01:05:00.0,Sat Sep 19, 9:05 PM,2 min,29°,24° above WNW,22° above NNE|2020-09-21 00:18:00.0,Sun Sep 20, 8:18 PM,4 min,43°,34° above WNW,10° above NE|2020-09-21 01:55:00.0,Sun Sep 20, 9:55 PM,< 1 min,13°,11° above NW,13° above NNW|2020-09-22 01:07:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:07 PM,2 min,17°,15° above NW,14° above N|2020-09-23 00:20:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:20 PM,3 min,21°,19° above NW,11° above NNE|2020-09-23 01:57:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 9:57 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2020-09-23 23:35:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:35 PM,1 min,19°,19° above NNE,10° above NE|2020-09-24 01:10:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:10 PM,2 min,13°,10° above NNW,12° above N|2020-09-25 00:22:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:22 PM,3 min,14°,11° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-25 23:34:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:34 PM,4 min,17°,14° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-26 01:12:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:12 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above N|2020-09-27 00:25:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:25 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-27 23:37:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:37 PM,3 min,12°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2020-09-28 01:14:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:14 PM,1 min,14°,11° above NNW,14° above N|2020-09-29 00:27:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:27 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,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 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