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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Jan 15, 2021 through Saturday Jan 30, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Jan 17, 7:12 PM < 1 min 15° 10° above SW 15° above SW  
Mon Jan 18, 6:25 PM 3 min 32° 10° above SSW 32° above SSE  
Tue Jan 19, 5:38 PM 4 min 20° 10° above S 15° above E  
Tue Jan 19, 7:14 PM < 1 min 26° 18° above WSW 26° above W  
Wed Jan 20, 6:27 PM 2 min 87° 22° above WSW 68° above ENE  
Thu Jan 21, 5:39 PM 4 min 54° 22° above SSW 16° above ENE  
Thu Jan 21, 7:16 PM < 1 min 22° 16° above WNW 22° above WNW  
Fri Jan 22, 6:29 PM 2 min 42° 24° above W 35° above NNE  
Sat Jan 23, 5:42 PM 4 min 60° 39° above W 14° above NE  
Sat Jan 23, 7:18 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above NW  
Sun Jan 24, 6:31 PM 3 min 26° 15° above WNW 24° above N  
Mon Jan 25, 5:44 PM 4 min 31° 19° above WNW 13° above NE  
Mon Jan 25, 7:21 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NW  
Tue Jan 26, 6:33 PM 3 min 21° 10° above NW 21° above N  
Wed Jan 27, 5:45 PM 5 min 23° 10° above WNW 12° above NE  
Wed Jan 27, 7:23 PM < 1 min 13° 11° above NW 13° above NW  
Thu Jan 28, 6:36 PM 3 min 23° 11° above NW 23° above N  
Fri Jan 29, 5:48 PM 5 min 21° 10° above NW 13° above NE  
Fri Jan 29, 7:25 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NW  
2021-01-18 02:12:00.0,Sun Jan 17, 7:12 PM,< 1 min,15°,10° above SW,15° above SW|2021-01-19 01:25:00.0,Mon Jan 18, 6:25 PM,3 min,32°,10° above SSW,32° above SSE|2021-01-20 00:38:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 5:38 PM,4 min,20°,10° above S,15° above E|2021-01-20 02:14:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 7:14 PM,< 1 min,26°,18° above WSW,26° above W|2021-01-21 01:27:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 6:27 PM,2 min,87°,22° above WSW,68° above ENE|2021-01-22 00:39:00.0,Thu Jan 21, 5:39 PM,4 min,54°,22° above SSW,16° above ENE|2021-01-22 02:16:00.0,Thu Jan 21, 7:16 PM,< 1 min,22°,16° above WNW,22° above WNW|2021-01-23 01:29:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 6:29 PM,2 min,42°,24° above W,35° above NNE|2021-01-24 00:42:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 5:42 PM,4 min,60°,39° above W,14° above NE|2021-01-24 02:18:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 7:18 PM,1 min,16°,10° above WNW,16° above NW|2021-01-25 01:31:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 6:31 PM,3 min,26°,15° above WNW,24° above N|2021-01-26 00:44:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 5:44 PM,4 min,31°,19° above WNW,13° above NE|2021-01-26 02:21:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 7:21 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NW|2021-01-27 01:33:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 6:33 PM,3 min,21°,10° above NW,21° above N|2021-01-28 00:45:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 5:45 PM,5 min,23°,10° above WNW,12° above NE|2021-01-28 02:23:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 7:23 PM,< 1 min,13°,11° above NW,13° above NW|2021-01-29 01:36:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 6:36 PM,3 min,23°,11° above NW,23° above N|2021-01-30 00:48:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 5:48 PM,5 min,21°,10° above NW,13° above NE|2021-01-30 02:25:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 7:25 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NW,17° above NW|

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