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Sighting Location

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Location: Charlestown, Rhode Island, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 24, 2021 through Sunday Oct 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Sep 24, 7:39 PM 4 min 16° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Fri Sep 24, 9:16 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Sat Sep 25, 8:29 PM 2 min 15° 10° above NNW 15° above N  
Sun Sep 26, 7:42 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NE  
Sun Sep 26, 9:18 PM 1 min 13° 10° above NW 13° above NNW  
Mon Sep 27, 8:31 PM 2 min 19° 10° above NNW 19° above N  
Tue Sep 28, 7:44 PM 4 min 17° 10° above NNW 13° above NE  
Tue Sep 28, 9:20 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NW  
Wed Sep 29, 8:33 PM 2 min 26° 10° above NW 26° above NNW  
Thu Sep 30, 7:46 PM 4 min 24° 10° above NW 21° above NE  
Thu Sep 30, 9:22 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above WNW 12° above WNW  
Fri Oct 1, 6:59 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Fri Oct 1, 8:35 PM 2 min 33° 10° above NW 33° above NW  
Sat Oct 2, 7:48 PM 4 min 49° 10° above NW 40° above ENE  
Sun Oct 3, 7:01 PM 6 min 33° 10° above NW 12° above E  
Sun Oct 3, 8:37 PM 2 min 26° 10° above WNW 26° above W  
Mon Oct 4, 7:50 PM 4 min 59° 10° above WNW 38° above SSE  
Tue Oct 5, 7:02 PM 7 min 81° 10° above NW 11° above ESE  
Tue Oct 5, 8:41 PM 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above SW  
Wed Oct 6, 7:52 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 11° above S  
Thu Oct 7, 7:05 PM 6 min 33° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
2021-09-24 23:39:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 7:39 PM,4 min,16°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2021-09-25 01:16:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 9:16 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above NNW|2021-09-26 00:29:00.0,Sat Sep 25, 8:29 PM,2 min,15°,10° above NNW,15° above N|2021-09-26 23:42:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 7:42 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NE|2021-09-27 01:18:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 9:18 PM,1 min,13°,10° above NW,13° above NNW|2021-09-28 00:31:00.0,Mon Sep 27, 8:31 PM,2 min,19°,10° above NNW,19° above N|2021-09-28 23:44:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 7:44 PM,4 min,17°,10° above NNW,13° above NE|2021-09-29 01:20:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 9:20 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NW|2021-09-30 00:33:00.0,Wed Sep 29, 8:33 PM,2 min,26°,10° above NW,26° above NNW|2021-09-30 23:46:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 7:46 PM,4 min,24°,10° above NW,21° above NE|2021-10-01 01:22:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 9:22 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above WNW,12° above WNW|2021-10-01 22:59:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 6:59 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|2021-10-02 00:35:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 8:35 PM,2 min,33°,10° above NW,33° above NW|2021-10-02 23:48:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 7:48 PM,4 min,49°,10° above NW,40° above ENE|2021-10-03 23:01:00.0,Sun Oct 3, 7:01 PM,6 min,33°,10° above NW,12° above E|2021-10-04 00:37:00.0,Sun Oct 3, 8:37 PM,2 min,26°,10° above WNW,26° above W|2021-10-04 23:50:00.0,Mon Oct 4, 7:50 PM,4 min,59°,10° above WNW,38° above SSE|2021-10-05 23:02:00.0,Tue Oct 5, 7:02 PM,7 min,81°,10° above NW,11° above ESE|2021-10-06 00:41:00.0,Tue Oct 5, 8:41 PM,1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above SW|2021-10-06 23:52:00.0,Wed Oct 6, 7:52 PM,5 min,20°,10° above W,11° above S|2021-10-07 23:05:00.0,Thu Oct 7, 7:05 PM,6 min,33°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|

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