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Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 29, 2021 through Friday Dec 17, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Dec 1, 4:53 PM 6 min 22° 10° above NW 10° above ENE  
Wed Dec 1, 6:30 PM 2 min 25° 10° above NW 25° above NW  
Thu Dec 2, 5:43 PM 4 min 33° 10° above NW 31° above NE  
Fri Dec 3, 4:56 PM 6 min 27° 10° above NW 11° above ENE  
Fri Dec 3, 6:33 PM 2 min 33° 10° above WNW 33° above WNW  
Sat Dec 4, 5:45 PM 4 min 63° 10° above NW 40° above E  
Sun Dec 5, 4:58 PM 7 min 44° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Sun Dec 5, 6:35 PM 3 min 31° 10° above WNW 31° above SW  
Mon Dec 6, 5:48 PM 6 min 51° 10° above WNW 16° above SE  
Tue Dec 7, 5:01 PM 7 min 83° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Tue Dec 7, 6:39 PM 3 min 12° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Wed Dec 8, 5:51 PM 5 min 19° 10° above W 10° above S  
Thu Dec 9, 5:03 PM 6 min 30° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Sat Dec 11, 5:07 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  

The following Cygnus sightings are possible from Monday Nov 29, 2021 through Friday Dec 17, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 29, 5:13 PM 6 min 24° 10° above WNW 13° above NE  
Mon Nov 29, 6:51 PM 1 min 16° 10° above NW 16° above NW  
Tue Nov 30, 6:16 PM 2 min 28° 10° above NW 28° above N  
Wed Dec 1, 5:42 PM 4 min 28° 10° above NW 26° above NE  
Wed Dec 1, 7:20 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above WNW 12° above WNW  
Thu Dec 2, 5:08 PM 6 min 27° 10° above NW 14° above ENE  
Thu Dec 2, 6:45 PM 2 min 26° 10° above WNW 26° above NW  
Fri Dec 3, 6:11 PM 3 min 58° 10° above NW 58° above N  
Sat Dec 4, 5:36 PM 5 min 53° 10° above NW 30° above E  
Sat Dec 4, 7:14 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above W  
Sun Dec 5, 5:02 PM 7 min 45° 10° above NW 10° above E  
Sun Dec 5, 6:40 PM 3 min 33° 10° above WNW 33° above SW  
Mon Dec 6, 6:05 PM 5 min 43° 10° above WNW 21° above SSE  
Tue Dec 7, 5:31 PM 7 min 53° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Wed Dec 8, 4:56 PM 7 min 67° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Thu Dec 9, 6:01 PM 3 min 13° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Fri Dec 10, 5:26 PM 5 min 16° 10° above W 10° above S  
Sat Dec 11, 4:51 PM 5 min 20° 10° above W 10° above S  
2021-12-01 23:53:00.0,Wed Dec 1, 4:53 PM,6 min,22°,10° above NW,10° above ENE|2021-12-02 01:30:00.0,Wed Dec 1, 6:30 PM,2 min,25°,10° above NW,25° above NW|2021-12-03 00:43:00.0,Thu Dec 2, 5:43 PM,4 min,33°,10° above NW,31° above NE|2021-12-03 23:56:00.0,Fri Dec 3, 4:56 PM,6 min,27°,10° above NW,11° above ENE|2021-12-04 01:33:00.0,Fri Dec 3, 6:33 PM,2 min,33°,10° above WNW,33° above WNW|2021-12-05 00:45:00.0,Sat Dec 4, 5:45 PM,4 min,63°,10° above NW,40° above E|2021-12-05 23:58:00.0,Sun Dec 5, 4:58 PM,7 min,44°,10° above NW,10° above E|2021-12-06 01:35:00.0,Sun Dec 5, 6:35 PM,3 min,31°,10° above WNW,31° above SW|2021-12-07 00:48:00.0,Mon Dec 6, 5:48 PM,6 min,51°,10° above WNW,16° above SE|2021-12-08 00:01:00.0,Tue Dec 7, 5:01 PM,7 min,83°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|2021-12-08 01:39:00.0,Tue Dec 7, 6:39 PM,3 min,12°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|2021-12-09 00:51:00.0,Wed Dec 8, 5:51 PM,5 min,19°,10° above W,10° above S|2021-12-10 00:03:00.0,Thu Dec 9, 5:03 PM,6 min,30°,10° above WNW,10° above SSE|2021-12-12 00:07:00.0,Sat Dec 11, 5:07 PM,2 min,11°,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 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