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Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 11, 2019 through Thursday Oct 31, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Oct 22, 6:58 AM 2 min 23° 11° above S 23° above SE  
Wed Oct 23, 6:11 AM 1 min 12° 10° above SSE 12° above SE  
Thu Oct 24, 6:57 AM 6 min 79° 10° above SW 11° above NE  
Fri Oct 25, 6:11 AM 2 min 39° 33° above S 23° above E  
Sat Oct 26, 5:25 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above E 15° above E  
Sat Oct 26, 6:58 AM 5 min 32° 19° above W 11° above NNE  
Sun Oct 27, 6:12 AM 2 min 45° 45° above NNE 11° above NE  
Mon Oct 28, 5:26 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above NE 11° above NE  
Mon Oct 28, 6:59 AM 3 min 15° 14° above NW 10° above NNE  
Tue Oct 29, 6:13 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above N 11° above NNE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 11, 2019 through Thursday Oct 31, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Oct 11, 7:39 PM 7 min 61° 10° above NW 10° above ESE  
Fri Oct 11, 9:19 PM 2 min 12° 11° above WSW 12° above SW  
Sat Oct 12, 8:47 PM 3 min 16° 15° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Sun Oct 13, 8:15 PM 3 min 20° 19° above WSW 10° above S  
Mon Oct 14, 7:42 PM 3 min 25° 24° above SW 11° above S  
Tue Oct 22, 7:08 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SSE 10° above SE  
Fri Oct 25, 7:06 AM 6 min 62° 11° above SW 12° above NE  
Sat Oct 26, 6:34 AM 5 min 48° 12° above SSW 23° above ENE  
2019-10-22 10:58:00.0,Tue Oct 22, 6:58 AM,2 min,23°,11° above S,23° above SE|2019-10-23 10:11:00.0,Wed Oct 23, 6:11 AM,1 min,12°,10° above SSE,12° above SE|2019-10-24 10:57:00.0,Thu Oct 24, 6:57 AM,6 min,79°,10° above SW,11° above NE|2019-10-25 10:11:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 6:11 AM,2 min,39°,33° above S,23° above E|2019-10-26 09:25:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 5:25 AM,< 1 min,15°,15° above E,15° above E|2019-10-26 10:58:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 6:58 AM,5 min,32°,19° above W,11° above NNE|2019-10-27 10:12:00.0,Sun Oct 27, 6:12 AM,2 min,45°,45° above NNE,11° above NE|2019-10-28 09:26:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 5:26 AM,< 1 min,11°,11° above NE,11° above NE|2019-10-28 10:59:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 6:59 AM,3 min,15°,14° above NW,10° above NNE|2019-10-29 10:13:00.0,Tue Oct 29, 6:13 AM,< 1 min,15°,15° above N,11° above NNE|

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