Spot The Station

Sighting Location

Location: Spearfish, South Dakota, United States

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The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Apr 23, 2018 through Wednesday May 9, 2018

Date	Visible	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Tue May 1, 5:02 AM	3 min	17°	10° above S	14° above ESE
Thu May 3, 4:53 AM	4 min	37°	10° above SSW	28° above E
Fri May 4, 4:03 AM	4 min	21°	17° above SSE	10° above E
Sat May 5, 3:13 AM	< 1 min	11°	11° above ESE	10° above ESE
Sat May 5, 4:45 AM	4 min	84°	15° above SW	37° above ENE
Sun May 6, 3:55 AM	3 min	46°	38° above S	19° above ENE
Mon May 7, 3:04 AM	2 min	22°	22° above ESE	11° above E
Mon May 7, 4:37 AM	4 min	49°	12° above W	31° above NNE
Tue May 8, 3:46 AM	2 min	80°	45° above WSW	29° above NE

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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.

Astronomical Horizon