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Sighting Location

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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Oct 15, 2018 through Wednesday Oct 31, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Oct 25, 6:06 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above SE  
Fri Oct 26, 6:48 AM 3 min 41° 10° above SSW 40° above ESE  
Sat Oct 27, 5:57 AM 3 min 23° 11° above S 23° above SE  
Sun Oct 28, 5:06 AM 2 min 13° 12° above SSE 12° above ESE  
Sun Oct 28, 6:40 AM 6 min 85° 10° above WSW 11° above ENE  
Mon Oct 29, 5:50 AM 3 min 53° 28° above SSW 25° above ENE  
Tue Oct 30, 5:01 AM < 1 min 22° 22° above E 19° above E  
Tue Oct 30, 6:34 AM 5 min 43° 14° above W 12° above NE  
2018-10-25 12:06:00.0,Thu Oct 25, 6:06 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SE,10° above SE|2018-10-26 12:48:00.0,Fri Oct 26, 6:48 AM,3 min,41°,10° above SSW,40° above ESE|2018-10-27 11:57:00.0,Sat Oct 27, 5:57 AM,3 min,23°,11° above S,23° above SE|2018-10-28 11:06:00.0,Sun Oct 28, 5:06 AM,2 min,13°,12° above SSE,12° above ESE|2018-10-28 12:40:00.0,Sun Oct 28, 6:40 AM,6 min,85°,10° above WSW,11° above ENE|2018-10-29 11:50:00.0,Mon Oct 29, 5:50 AM,3 min,53°,28° above SSW,25° above ENE|2018-10-30 11:01:00.0,Tue Oct 30, 5:01 AM,< 1 min,22°,22° above E,19° above E|2018-10-30 12:34:00.0,Tue Oct 30, 6:34 AM,5 min,43°,14° above W,12° above NE|

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