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Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 29, 2021 through Friday Dec 17, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Dec 3, 6:01 PM 1 min 15° 10° above NNW 15° above N  
Sat Dec 4, 5:14 PM 3 min 13° 10° above N 11° above NE  
Sat Dec 4, 6:49 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above NW 14° above NW  
Sun Dec 5, 6:02 PM 3 min 38° 10° above NW 38° above NNE  
Mon Dec 6, 5:15 PM 5 min 25° 10° above NNW 12° above E  
Mon Dec 6, 6:52 PM 2 min 23° 10° above WNW 23° above W  
Tue Dec 7, 6:05 PM 5 min 58° 10° above NW 25° above SSE  
Wed Dec 8, 5:17 PM 7 min 75° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Thu Dec 9, 6:08 PM 4 min 17° 10° above W 10° above S  
Fri Dec 10, 5:20 PM 6 min 30° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  

The following Cygnus sightings are possible from Monday Nov 29, 2021 through Friday Dec 17, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Dec 2, 6:12 PM 1 min 13° 10° above NNW 13° above N  
Fri Dec 3, 5:38 PM 2 min 13° 10° above N 13° above NNE  
Sat Dec 4, 5:04 PM 3 min 12° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Sat Dec 4, 6:40 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NW 17° above NW  
Sun Dec 5, 6:06 PM 3 min 39° 10° above NW 39° above NNE  
Mon Dec 6, 5:32 PM 5 min 33° 10° above NNW 21° above E  
Mon Dec 6, 7:10 PM 1 min 16° 10° above WNW 16° above W  
Tue Dec 7, 6:35 PM 4 min 33° 10° above WNW 31° above SSW  
Wed Dec 8, 6:01 PM 7 min 44° 10° above WNW 10° above SSE  
Thu Dec 9, 5:26 PM 7 min 59° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Sun Dec 12, 5:22 PM 3 min 13° 10° above W 10° above SSW  
2021-12-04 00:01:00.0,Fri Dec 3, 6:01 PM,1 min,15°,10° above NNW,15° above N|2021-12-04 23:14:00.0,Sat Dec 4, 5:14 PM,3 min,13°,10° above N,11° above NE|2021-12-05 00:49:00.0,Sat Dec 4, 6:49 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above NW,14° above NW|2021-12-06 00:02:00.0,Sun Dec 5, 6:02 PM,3 min,38°,10° above NW,38° above NNE|2021-12-06 23:15:00.0,Mon Dec 6, 5:15 PM,5 min,25°,10° above NNW,12° above E|2021-12-07 00:52:00.0,Mon Dec 6, 6:52 PM,2 min,23°,10° above WNW,23° above W|2021-12-08 00:05:00.0,Tue Dec 7, 6:05 PM,5 min,58°,10° above NW,25° above SSE|2021-12-08 23:17:00.0,Wed Dec 8, 5:17 PM,7 min,75°,10° above NW,10° above SE|2021-12-10 00:08:00.0,Thu Dec 9, 6:08 PM,4 min,17°,10° above W,10° above S|2021-12-10 23:20:00.0,Fri Dec 10, 5:20 PM,6 min,30°,10° above WNW,10° 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 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