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Sighting Location

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Location: Spearfish, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 4:41 PM 1 min 18° 18° above NE 10° above ENE  
Fri Dec 7, 6:13 PM 2 min 31° 10° above NW 31° above NNW  
Sat Dec 8, 5:21 PM 4 min 33° 10° above NW 23° above ENE  
Sat Dec 8, 6:58 PM < 1 min 15° 10° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Sun Dec 9, 6:05 PM 3 min 87° 10° above WNW 82° above SE  
Mon Dec 10, 5:13 PM 6 min 56° 10° above NW 12° above ESE  
Mon Dec 10, 6:52 PM < 1 min 20° 18° above WSW 20° above WSW  
Tue Dec 11, 5:59 PM 3 min 38° 24° above W 18° above SSE  
Wed Dec 12, 5:05 PM 6 min 71° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Thu Dec 13, 5:53 PM 2 min 17° 17° above SW 10° above S  
Fri Dec 14, 5:01 PM 3 min 31° 31° above SW 11° above SSE  
Sun Dec 16, 4:54 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above SSW 10° above SSW  
Sat Dec 22, 6:46 AM 2 min 24° 11° above SSW 24° above SSE  

The following DRAGON sightings are possible from Friday Dec 7, 2018 through Sunday Dec 23, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 7, 4:41 PM 2 min 21° 21° above NNE 10° above ENE  
Fri Dec 7, 6:14 PM 2 min 32° 10° above NW 32° above NNW  
Sat Dec 8, 5:21 PM 4 min 33° 10° above NW 23° above ENE  
2018-12-07 23:41:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 4:41 PM,1 min,18°,18° above NE,10° above ENE|2018-12-08 01:13:00.0,Fri Dec 7, 6:13 PM,2 min,31°,10° above NW,31° above NNW|2018-12-09 00:21:00.0,Sat Dec 8, 5:21 PM,4 min,33°,10° above NW,23° above ENE|2018-12-09 01:58:00.0,Sat Dec 8, 6:58 PM,< 1 min,15°,10° above WNW,15° above WNW|2018-12-10 01:05:00.0,Sun Dec 9, 6:05 PM,3 min,87°,10° above WNW,82° above SE|2018-12-11 00:13:00.0,Mon Dec 10, 5:13 PM,6 min,56°,10° above NW,12° above ESE|2018-12-11 01:52:00.0,Mon Dec 10, 6:52 PM,< 1 min,20°,18° above WSW,20° above WSW|2018-12-12 00:59:00.0,Tue Dec 11, 5:59 PM,3 min,38°,24° above W,18° above SSE|2018-12-13 00:05:00.0,Wed Dec 12, 5:05 PM,6 min,71°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|2018-12-14 00:53:00.0,Thu Dec 13, 5:53 PM,2 min,17°,17° above SW,10° above S|2018-12-15 00:01:00.0,Fri Dec 14, 5:01 PM,3 min,31°,31° above SW,11° above SSE|2018-12-16 23:54:00.0,Sun Dec 16, 4:54 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above SSW,10° above SSW|2018-12-22 13:46:00.0,Sat Dec 22, 6:46 AM,2 min,24°,11° above SSW,24° above SSE|

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