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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 Jun 24, 2019 through Wednesday Jul 10, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Jun 29, 4:00 AM 2 min 11° 10° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Sun Jun 30, 4:45 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SW 10° above SW  
Mon Jul 1, 3:56 AM 5 min 27° 14° above SSW 12° above E  
Tue Jul 2, 3:09 AM 3 min 16° 16° above SE 10° above E  
Tue Jul 2, 4:42 AM 4 min 71° 10° above WSW 47° above NE  
Wed Jul 3, 3:54 AM 4 min 70° 18° above SW 30° above ENE  
Thu Jul 4, 3:07 AM 3 min 40° 38° above SSE 11° above ENE  
Thu Jul 4, 4:41 AM 4 min 36° 12° above W 30° above NNE  
Fri Jul 5, 2:19 AM 1 min 19° 19° above ESE 11° above E  
Fri Jul 5, 3:52 AM 4 min 51° 15° above W 33° above NNE  
Sat Jul 6, 3:04 AM 3 min 80° 43° above WSW 25° above NE  
Sat Jul 6, 4:40 AM 3 min 24° 11° above WNW 22° above N  
Sun Jul 7, 2:17 AM 2 min 43° 43° above E 10° above ENE  
Sun Jul 7, 3:50 AM 4 min 30° 11° above WNW 25° above NNE  
Mon Jul 8, 1:29 AM < 1 min 14° 14° above ENE 10° above ENE  
Mon Jul 8, 3:02 AM 3 min 39° 24° above WNW 28° above NNE  
Mon Jul 8, 4:38 AM 3 min 21° 10° above NW 20° above NNE  
Tue Jul 9, 2:14 AM 3 min 57° 57° above NNW 11° above NE  
Tue Jul 9, 3:49 AM 3 min 22° 10° above WNW 22° above N  
2019-06-29 10:00:00.0,Sat Jun 29, 4:00 AM,2 min,11°,10° above SSE,10° above ESE|2019-06-30 10:45:00.0,Sun Jun 30, 4:45 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above SW,10° above SW|2019-07-01 09:56:00.0,Mon Jul 1, 3:56 AM,5 min,27°,14° above SSW,12° above E|2019-07-02 09:09:00.0,Tue Jul 2, 3:09 AM,3 min,16°,16° above SE,10° above E|2019-07-02 10:42:00.0,Tue Jul 2, 4:42 AM,4 min,71°,10° above WSW,47° above NE|2019-07-03 09:54:00.0,Wed Jul 3, 3:54 AM,4 min,70°,18° above SW,30° above ENE|2019-07-04 09:07:00.0,Thu Jul 4, 3:07 AM,3 min,40°,38° above SSE,11° above ENE|2019-07-04 10:41:00.0,Thu Jul 4, 4:41 AM,4 min,36°,12° above W,30° above NNE|2019-07-05 08:19:00.0,Fri Jul 5, 2:19 AM,1 min,19°,19° above ESE,11° above E|2019-07-05 09:52:00.0,Fri Jul 5, 3:52 AM,4 min,51°,15° above W,33° above NNE|2019-07-06 09:04:00.0,Sat Jul 6, 3:04 AM,3 min,80°,43° above WSW,25° above NE|2019-07-06 10:40:00.0,Sat Jul 6, 4:40 AM,3 min,24°,11° above WNW,22° above N|2019-07-07 08:17:00.0,Sun Jul 7, 2:17 AM,2 min,43°,43° above E,10° above ENE|2019-07-07 09:50:00.0,Sun Jul 7, 3:50 AM,4 min,30°,11° above WNW,25° above NNE|2019-07-08 07:29:00.0,Mon Jul 8, 1:29 AM,< 1 min,14°,14° above ENE,10° above ENE|2019-07-08 09:02:00.0,Mon Jul 8, 3:02 AM,3 min,39°,24° above WNW,28° above NNE|2019-07-08 10:38:00.0,Mon Jul 8, 4:38 AM,3 min,21°,10° above NW,20° above NNE|2019-07-09 08:14:00.0,Tue Jul 9, 2:14 AM,3 min,57°,57° above NNW,11° above NE|2019-07-09 09:49:00.0,Tue Jul 9, 3:49 AM,3 min,22°,10° above WNW,22° above N|

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