Skip to main content

Sighting Location

Select Location

Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Oct 14, 2019 through Monday Nov 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Oct 23, 6:47 AM 2 min 15° 11° above SSE 15° above SE  
Fri Oct 25, 6:45 AM 4 min 40° 10° above SSW 36° above ESE  
Sat Oct 26, 5:58 AM 2 min 24° 19° above S 20° above ESE  
Sun Oct 27, 5:12 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 11° above ESE  
Sun Oct 27, 6:45 AM 5 min 77° 22° above WSW 10° above NE  
Mon Oct 28, 5:59 AM 2 min 57° 57° above ESE 21° above ENE  
Mon Oct 28, 7:33 AM 1 min 18° 11° above WNW 18° above WNW  
Tue Oct 29, 6:46 AM 4 min 37° 27° above WNW 10° above NE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Monday Oct 14, 2019 through Monday Nov 4, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Nov 3, 5:00 AM 1 min 17° 17° above NNE 10° above NE  
Sun Nov 3, 6:34 AM 5 min 23° 11° above NW 13° above ENE  
Mon Nov 4, 5:45 AM 4 min 20° 17° above NNW 10° above ENE  
2019-10-23 11:47:00.0,Wed Oct 23, 6:47 AM,2 min,15°,11° above SSE,15° above SE|2019-10-25 11:45:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 6:45 AM,4 min,40°,10° above SSW,36° above ESE|2019-10-26 10:58:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 5:58 AM,2 min,24°,19° above S,20° above ESE|2019-10-27 10:12:00.0,Sun Oct 27, 5:12 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° above ESE,11° above ESE|2019-10-27 11:45:00.0,Sun Oct 27, 6:45 AM,5 min,77°,22° above WSW,10° above NE|2019-10-28 10:59:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 5:59 AM,2 min,57°,57° above ESE,21° above ENE|2019-10-28 12:33:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 7:33 AM,1 min,18°,11° above WNW,18° above WNW|2019-10-29 11:46:00.0,Tue Oct 29, 6:46 AM,4 min,37°,27° above WNW,10° 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