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Sighting Location

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Location: Spearfish, South Dakota, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jan 15, 2020 through Friday Jan 31, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Jan 19, 6:55 PM 1 min 21° 10° above SSW 21° above SSW  
Mon Jan 20, 6:08 PM 3 min 21° 11° above S 21° above SE  
Mon Jan 20, 7:44 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above WSW 10° above WSW  
Tue Jan 21, 5:21 PM 3 min 13° 10° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Tue Jan 21, 6:57 PM 2 min 43° 15° above WSW 43° above WSW  
Wed Jan 22, 6:09 PM 4 min 56° 15° above SW 35° above E  
Thu Jan 23, 5:20 PM 6 min 34° 10° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Thu Jan 23, 6:59 PM 1 min 38° 24° above W 38° above NW  
Fri Jan 24, 6:11 PM 3 min 60° 32° above W 26° above NE  
Fri Jan 24, 7:47 PM < 1 min 11° 11° above WNW 11° above WNW  
Sat Jan 25, 5:24 PM 4 min 89° 43° above WSW 10° above ENE  
Sat Jan 25, 7:00 PM 2 min 26° 15° above WNW 26° above NNW  
Sun Jan 26, 6:13 PM 3 min 33° 19° above WNW 22° above NNE  
Mon Jan 27, 5:26 PM 4 min 42° 28° above WNW 11° above NE  
Mon Jan 27, 7:02 PM 2 min 20° 11° above NW 20° above NNW  
Tue Jan 28, 6:14 PM 4 min 24° 11° above WNW 19° above NNE  
Wed Jan 29, 5:27 PM 5 min 27° 13° above WNW 10° above NE  
Wed Jan 29, 7:04 PM 2 min 21° 11° above NW 21° above NNW  
2020-01-20 01:55:00.0,Sun Jan 19, 6:55 PM,1 min,21°,10° above SSW,21° above SSW|2020-01-21 01:08:00.0,Mon Jan 20, 6:08 PM,3 min,21°,11° above S,21° above SE|2020-01-21 02:44:00.0,Mon Jan 20, 7:44 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above WSW,10° above WSW|2020-01-22 00:21:00.0,Tue Jan 21, 5:21 PM,3 min,13°,10° above SSE,10° above ESE|2020-01-22 01:57:00.0,Tue Jan 21, 6:57 PM,2 min,43°,15° above WSW,43° above WSW|2020-01-23 01:09:00.0,Wed Jan 22, 6:09 PM,4 min,56°,15° above SW,35° above E|2020-01-24 00:20:00.0,Thu Jan 23, 5:20 PM,6 min,34°,10° above SSW,10° above ENE|2020-01-24 01:59:00.0,Thu Jan 23, 6:59 PM,1 min,38°,24° above W,38° above NW|2020-01-25 01:11:00.0,Fri Jan 24, 6:11 PM,3 min,60°,32° above W,26° above NE|2020-01-25 02:47:00.0,Fri Jan 24, 7:47 PM,< 1 min,11°,11° above WNW,11° above WNW|2020-01-26 00:24:00.0,Sat Jan 25, 5:24 PM,4 min,89°,43° above WSW,10° above ENE|2020-01-26 02:00:00.0,Sat Jan 25, 7:00 PM,2 min,26°,15° above WNW,26° above NNW|2020-01-27 01:13:00.0,Sun Jan 26, 6:13 PM,3 min,33°,19° above WNW,22° above NNE|2020-01-28 00:26:00.0,Mon Jan 27, 5:26 PM,4 min,42°,28° above WNW,11° above NE|2020-01-28 02:02:00.0,Mon Jan 27, 7:02 PM,2 min,20°,11° above NW,20° above NNW|2020-01-29 01:14:00.0,Tue Jan 28, 6:14 PM,4 min,24°,11° above WNW,19° above NNE|2020-01-30 00:27:00.0,Wed Jan 29, 5:27 PM,5 min,27°,13° above WNW,10° above NE|2020-01-30 02:04:00.0,Wed Jan 29, 7:04 PM,2 min,21°,11° above NW,21° above NNW|

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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton