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Sighting Location

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Location: Pierre, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 5:38 PM 5 min 23° 11° above NW 11° above ENE  
Fri Dec 7, 7:14 PM 2 min 27° 10° above NW 27° above NW  
Sat Dec 8, 6:22 PM 4 min 38° 10° above NW 30° above ENE  
Sun Dec 9, 5:30 PM 5 min 29° 11° above NW 11° above ENE  
Sun Dec 9, 7:06 PM 3 min 54° 10° above WNW 54° above W  
Mon Dec 10, 6:14 PM 5 min 70° 10° above NW 19° above ESE  
Mon Dec 10, 7:52 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above WSW 14° above WSW  
Tue Dec 11, 5:27 PM < 1 min 17° 17° above E 11° above E  
Tue Dec 11, 7:00 PM 2 min 29° 24° above WSW 20° above S  
Wed Dec 12, 6:06 PM 6 min 53° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Thu Dec 13, 6:53 PM 1 min 13° 13° above SW 10° above SSW  
Fri Dec 14, 6:01 PM 2 min 23° 23° above SW 10° above SSE  

The following DRAGON sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 5:38 PM 5 min 22° 11° above NW 10° above ENE  
Fri Dec 7, 7:14 PM 1 min 22° 10° above NW 22° above NW  
Sat Dec 8, 6:22 PM 4 min 38° 10° above NW 30° above ENE  
2018-12-07 23:38:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 5:38 PM,5 min,23°,11° above NW,11° above ENE|2018-12-08 01:14:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 7:14 PM,2 min,27°,10° above NW,27° above NW|2018-12-09 00:22:00.0,Sat Dec 8, 6:22 PM,4 min,38°,10° above NW,30° above ENE|2018-12-09 23:30:00.0,Sun Dec 9, 5:30 PM,5 min,29°,11° above NW,11° above ENE|2018-12-10 01:06:00.0,Sun Dec 9, 7:06 PM,3 min,54°,10° above WNW,54° above W|2018-12-11 00:14:00.0,Mon Dec 10, 6:14 PM,5 min,70°,10° above NW,19° above ESE|2018-12-11 01:52:00.0,Mon Dec 10, 7:52 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above WSW,14° above WSW|2018-12-11 23:27:00.0,Tue Dec 11, 5:27 PM,< 1 min,17°,17° above E,11° above E|2018-12-12 01:00:00.0,Tue Dec 11, 7:00 PM,2 min,29°,24° above WSW,20° above S|2018-12-13 00:06:00.0,Wed Dec 12, 6:06 PM,6 min,53°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|2018-12-14 00:53:00.0,Thu Dec 13, 6:53 PM,1 min,13°,13° above SW,10° above SSW|2018-12-15 00:01:00.0,Fri Dec 14, 6:01 PM,2 min,23°,23° above SW,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

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