Spot The Station

Sighting Location

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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 27, 2023 through Tuesday Dec 12, 2023

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Mon Nov 27, 6:02 PM	3 min	24°	10° above NW	24° above N
Tue Nov 28, 5:14 PM	5 min	22°	10° above NW	14° above NE
Tue Nov 28, 6:51 PM	1 min	15°	10° above NW	15° above NW
Wed Nov 29, 6:02 PM	3 min	34°	10° above NW	34° above N
Thu Nov 30, 5:14 PM	5 min	28°	10° above NW	16° above ENE
Thu Nov 30, 6:51 PM	1 min	21°	10° above WNW	21° above WNW
Fri Dec 1, 6:02 PM	4 min	69°	10° above NW	69° above NE
Sat Dec 2, 5:14 PM	6 min	47°	10° above NW	15° above E
Sat Dec 2, 6:51 PM	2 min	22°	10° above WNW	22° above WSW
Sun Dec 3, 6:02 PM	5 min	46°	10° above WNW	26° above SSE
Mon Dec 4, 5:14 PM	7 min	78°	10° above WNW	10° above SE
Mon Dec 4, 6:53 PM	2 min	11°	10° above WSW	10° above SSW
Tue Dec 5, 6:03 PM	5 min	18°	10° above W	10° above S
Wed Dec 6, 5:14 PM	6 min	30°	10° above WNW	10° above SSE
Fri Dec 8, 5:15 PM	3 min	12°	10° above WSW	10° above SSW

{ts '2023-11-28 01:02:00'},Mon Nov 27, 6:02 PM,3 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above N|{ts '2023-11-29 00:14:00'},Tue Nov 28, 5:14 PM,5 min,22°,10° above NW,14° above NE|{ts '2023-11-29 01:51:00'},Tue Nov 28, 6:51 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NW,15° above NW|{ts '2023-11-30 01:02:00'},Wed Nov 29, 6:02 PM,3 min,34°,10° above NW,34° above N|{ts '2023-12-01 00:14:00'},Thu Nov 30, 5:14 PM,5 min,28°,10° above NW,16° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-01 01:51:00'},Thu Nov 30, 6:51 PM,1 min,21°,10° above WNW,21° above WNW|{ts '2023-12-02 01:02:00'},Fri Dec 1, 6:02 PM,4 min,69°,10° above NW,69° above NE|{ts '2023-12-03 00:14:00'},Sat Dec 2, 5:14 PM,6 min,47°,10° above NW,15° above E|{ts '2023-12-03 01:51:00'},Sat Dec 2, 6:51 PM,2 min,22°,10° above WNW,22° above WSW|{ts '2023-12-04 01:02:00'},Sun Dec 3, 6:02 PM,5 min,46°,10° above WNW,26° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-05 00:14:00'},Mon Dec 4, 5:14 PM,7 min,78°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2023-12-05 01:53:00'},Mon Dec 4, 6:53 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2023-12-06 01:03:00'},Tue Dec 5, 6:03 PM,5 min,18°,10° above W,10° above S|{ts '2023-12-07 00:14:00'},Wed Dec 6, 5:14 PM,6 min,30°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2023-12-09 00:15:00'},Fri Dec 8, 5:15 PM,3 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|

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

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.