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Sighting Location

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Location: Spearfish, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 1, 2024 through Saturday Nov 16, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Nov 1, 6:03 AM 4 min 59° 37° above NW 10° above ESE  
Sat Nov 2, 5:16 AM 2 min 28° 28° above ENE 10° above E  
Sat Nov 2, 6:48 AM 6 min 35° 13° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Sun Nov 3, 6:01 AM 4 min 60° 57° above WSW 10° above SE  
Mon Nov 4, 4:14 AM 1 min 22° 22° above ESE 10° above ESE  
Mon Nov 4, 5:47 AM 3 min 14° 12° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Tue Nov 5, 5:00 AM 2 min 22° 22° above SSW 10° above SSE  
Tue Nov 12, 7:05 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above SW 12° above SW  
Wed Nov 13, 6:16 PM 2 min 27° 10° above SSW 27° above SSE  
Thu Nov 14, 5:29 PM 4 min 19° 10° above S 15° above ESE  
Thu Nov 14, 7:05 PM 1 min 21° 10° above WSW 21° above WSW  
Fri Nov 15, 6:16 PM 3 min 77° 10° above SW 77° above ESE  
{ts '2024-11-01 12:03:00'},Fri Nov 1, 6:03 AM,4 min,59°,37° above NW,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-11-02 11:16:00'},Sat Nov 2, 5:16 AM,2 min,28°,28° above ENE,10° above E|{ts '2024-11-02 12:48:00'},Sat Nov 2, 6:48 AM,6 min,35°,13° above WNW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-11-03 12:01:00'},Sun Nov 3, 6:01 AM,4 min,60°,57° above WSW,10° above SE|{ts '2024-11-04 11:14:00'},Mon Nov 4, 4:14 AM,1 min,22°,22° above ESE,10° above ESE|{ts '2024-11-04 12:47:00'},Mon Nov 4, 5:47 AM,3 min,14°,12° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2024-11-05 12:00:00'},Tue Nov 5, 5:00 AM,2 min,22°,22° above SSW,10° above SSE|{ts '2024-11-13 02:05:00'},Tue Nov 12, 7:05 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above SW,12° above SW|{ts '2024-11-14 01:16:00'},Wed Nov 13, 6:16 PM,2 min,27°,10° above SSW,27° above SSE|{ts '2024-11-15 00:29:00'},Thu Nov 14, 5:29 PM,4 min,19°,10° above S,15° above ESE|{ts '2024-11-15 02:05:00'},Thu Nov 14, 7:05 PM,1 min,21°,10° above WSW,21° above WSW|{ts '2024-11-16 01:16:00'},Fri Nov 15, 6:16 PM,3 min,77°,10° above SW,77° above ESE|

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.