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Sighting Location

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Location: Pierre, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 21, 2020 through Tuesday Oct 6, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Sep 21, 8:02 PM 6 min 78° 12° above SW 10° above ENE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:41 PM 1 min 28° 23° above NW 28° above N  
Tue Sep 22, 8:54 PM 3 min 35° 29° above NW 14° above NE  
Tue Sep 22, 10:30 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above NW 14° above NW  
Wed Sep 23, 8:07 PM 4 min 46° 41° above WNW 11° above NE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:43 PM 2 min 23° 16° above NW 23° above N  
Thu Sep 24, 8:56 PM 3 min 24° 19° above NW 15° above NE  
Fri Sep 25, 8:08 PM 4 min 28° 23° above NW 10° above NE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:45 PM 1 min 22° 14° above NW 22° above NNW  
Sat Sep 26, 8:58 PM 3 min 22° 14° above NW 17° above NE  
Sun Sep 27, 8:10 PM 4 min 23° 16° above NW 10° above NE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:47 PM 1 min 22° 14° above NW 22° above NNW  
Mon Sep 28, 8:59 PM 3 min 26° 13° above NW 24° above NNE  
Tue Sep 29, 8:12 PM 5 min 23° 12° above NW 12° above ENE  
Tue Sep 29, 9:49 PM < 1 min 22° 18° above NW 22° above NW  
Wed Sep 30, 9:02 PM 2 min 40° 17° above NW 40° above NNE  
Thu Oct 1, 8:14 PM 4 min 31° 14° above NW 18° above ENE  
Thu Oct 1, 9:51 PM < 1 min 22° 18° above WNW 22° above WNW  
Fri Oct 2, 9:04 PM 2 min 86° 22° above WNW 86° above NE  
Sat Oct 3, 8:16 PM 4 min 57° 18° above NW 20° above E  
Sat Oct 3, 9:53 PM < 1 min 16° 12° above W 16° above W  
Sun Oct 4, 9:07 PM 2 min 35° 23° above W 35° above SSW  
Mon Oct 5, 8:19 PM 4 min 59° 32° above WNW 17° above SE  
2020-09-22 01:02:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 8:02 PM,6 min,78°,12° above SW,10° above ENE|2020-09-22 02:41:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:41 PM,1 min,28°,23° above NW,28° above N|2020-09-23 01:54:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:54 PM,3 min,35°,29° above NW,14° above NE|2020-09-23 03:30:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 10:30 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above NW,14° above NW|2020-09-24 01:07:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 8:07 PM,4 min,46°,41° above WNW,11° above NE|2020-09-24 02:43:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:43 PM,2 min,23°,16° above NW,23° above N|2020-09-25 01:56:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:56 PM,3 min,24°,19° above NW,15° above NE|2020-09-26 01:08:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 8:08 PM,4 min,28°,23° above NW,10° above NE|2020-09-26 02:45:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:45 PM,1 min,22°,14° above NW,22° above NNW|2020-09-27 01:58:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:58 PM,3 min,22°,14° above NW,17° above NE|2020-09-28 01:10:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 8:10 PM,4 min,23°,16° above NW,10° above NE|2020-09-28 02:47:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:47 PM,1 min,22°,14° above NW,22° above NNW|2020-09-29 01:59:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:59 PM,3 min,26°,13° above NW,24° above NNE|2020-09-30 01:12:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 8:12 PM,5 min,23°,12° above NW,12° above ENE|2020-09-30 02:49:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 9:49 PM,< 1 min,22°,18° above NW,22° above NW|2020-10-01 02:02:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 9:02 PM,2 min,40°,17° above NW,40° above NNE|2020-10-02 01:14:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 8:14 PM,4 min,31°,14° above NW,18° above ENE|2020-10-02 02:51:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 9:51 PM,< 1 min,22°,18° above WNW,22° above WNW|2020-10-03 02:04:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 9:04 PM,2 min,86°,22° above WNW,86° above NE|2020-10-04 01:16:00.0,Sat Oct 3, 8:16 PM,4 min,57°,18° above NW,20° above E|2020-10-04 02:53:00.0,Sat Oct 3, 9:53 PM,< 1 min,16°,12° above W,16° above W|2020-10-05 02:07:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 9:07 PM,2 min,35°,23° above W,35° above SSW|2020-10-06 01:19:00.0,Mon Oct 5, 8:19 PM,4 min,59°,32° above WNW,17° above SE|

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