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Sighting Location

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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Apr 24, 2019 through Friday May 10, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Apr 28, 5:09 AM 4 min 22° 11° above S 18° above ESE  
Mon Apr 29, 4:19 AM 3 min 13° 10° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Tue Apr 30, 5:03 AM 4 min 53° 10° above SW 39° above E  
Wed May 1, 4:14 AM 3 min 30° 20° above S 17° above E  
Thu May 2, 3:25 AM 2 min 17° 17° above ESE 10° above E  
Thu May 2, 4:58 AM 4 min 67° 12° above WSW 37° above NE  
Fri May 3, 4:09 AM 3 min 73° 35° above SW 30° above ENE  
Sat May 4, 3:20 AM 2 min 35° 35° above ESE 13° above ENE  
Sat May 4, 4:53 AM 4 min 36° 12° above W 26° above NNE  
Sun May 5, 2:31 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above E 10° above E  
Sun May 5, 4:04 AM 3 min 52° 26° above W 33° above NNE  
Mon May 6, 3:15 AM 2 min 64° 64° above NE 20° above ENE  
Mon May 6, 4:49 AM 4 min 25° 11° above WNW 21° above NNE  
Tue May 7, 2:26 AM 1 min 18° 18° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Tue May 7, 3:58 AM 3 min 31° 16° above WNW 26° above NNE  
Wed May 8, 3:09 AM 2 min 42° 42° above NNW 24° above NNE  
Wed May 8, 4:44 AM 3 min 21° 10° above NW 19° above NNE  
Thu May 9, 2:20 AM 1 min 24° 24° above NE 11° above NE  
Thu May 9, 3:53 AM 3 min 23° 11° above WNW 21° above NNE  
2019-04-28 11:09:00.0,Sun Apr 28, 5:09 AM,4 min,22°,11° above S,18° above ESE|2019-04-29 10:19:00.0,Mon Apr 29, 4:19 AM,3 min,13°,10° above SSE,10° above ESE|2019-04-30 11:03:00.0,Tue Apr 30, 5:03 AM,4 min,53°,10° above SW,39° above E|2019-05-01 10:14:00.0,Wed May 1, 4:14 AM,3 min,30°,20° above S,17° above E|2019-05-02 09:25:00.0,Thu May 2, 3:25 AM,2 min,17°,17° above ESE,10° above E|2019-05-02 10:58:00.0,Thu May 2, 4:58 AM,4 min,67°,12° above WSW,37° above NE|2019-05-03 10:09:00.0,Fri May 3, 4:09 AM,3 min,73°,35° above SW,30° above ENE|2019-05-04 09:20:00.0,Sat May 4, 3:20 AM,2 min,35°,35° above ESE,13° above ENE|2019-05-04 10:53:00.0,Sat May 4, 4:53 AM,4 min,36°,12° above W,26° above NNE|2019-05-05 08:31:00.0,Sun May 5, 2:31 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° above E,10° above E|2019-05-05 10:04:00.0,Sun May 5, 4:04 AM,3 min,52°,26° above W,33° above NNE|2019-05-06 09:15:00.0,Mon May 6, 3:15 AM,2 min,64°,64° above NE,20° above ENE|2019-05-06 10:49:00.0,Mon May 6, 4:49 AM,4 min,25°,11° above WNW,21° above NNE|2019-05-07 08:26:00.0,Tue May 7, 2:26 AM,1 min,18°,18° above ENE,10° above ENE|2019-05-07 09:58:00.0,Tue May 7, 3:58 AM,3 min,31°,16° above WNW,26° above NNE|2019-05-08 09:09:00.0,Wed May 8, 3:09 AM,2 min,42°,42° above NNW,24° above NNE|2019-05-08 10:44:00.0,Wed May 8, 4:44 AM,3 min,21°,10° above NW,19° above NNE|2019-05-09 08:20:00.0,Thu May 9, 2:20 AM,1 min,24°,24° above NE,11° above NE|2019-05-09 09:53:00.0,Thu May 9, 3:53 AM,3 min,23°,11° above WNW,21° 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

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