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Sighting Location

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Location: Johnson Space Center, Texas, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Dec 12, 2018 through Friday Dec 28, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Dec 12, 6:10 PM 4 min 25° 11° above NNW 18° above E  
Thu Dec 13, 6:54 PM 5 min 41° 10° above WNW 18° above SSE  
Fri Dec 14, 6:02 PM 6 min 76° 11° above NW 11° above SE  
Sat Dec 15, 6:49 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above SW 11° above SSW  
Sun Dec 16, 5:54 PM 5 min 30° 11° above WNW 10° above S  
Sat Dec 22, 6:09 AM 6 min 33° 12° above SSW 10° above ENE  
Sun Dec 23, 5:18 AM 1 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SE  
Mon Dec 24, 6:01 AM 6 min 70° 16° above SW 10° above NE  
Tue Dec 25, 5:12 AM 2 min 29° 29° above ENE 11° above ENE  
Tue Dec 25, 6:46 AM 3 min 13° 10° above WNW 10° above N  
Wed Dec 26, 5:57 AM 1 min 19° 19° above N 11° above NNE  
2018-12-13 00:10:00.0,Wed Dec 12, 6:10 PM,4 min,25°,11° above NNW,18° above E|2018-12-14 00:54:00.0,Thu Dec 13, 6:54 PM,5 min,41°,10° above WNW,18° above SSE|2018-12-15 00:02:00.0,Fri Dec 14, 6:02 PM,6 min,76°,11° above NW,11° above SE|2018-12-16 00:49:00.0,Sat Dec 15, 6:49 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above SW,11° above SSW|2018-12-16 23:54:00.0,Sun Dec 16, 5:54 PM,5 min,30°,11° above WNW,10° above S|2018-12-22 12:09:00.0,Sat Dec 22, 6:09 AM,6 min,33°,12° above SSW,10° above ENE|2018-12-23 11:18:00.0,Sun Dec 23, 5:18 AM,1 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SE|2018-12-24 12:01:00.0,Mon Dec 24, 6:01 AM,6 min,70°,16° above SW,10° above NE|2018-12-25 11:12:00.0,Tue Dec 25, 5:12 AM,2 min,29°,29° above ENE,11° above ENE|2018-12-25 12:46:00.0,Tue Dec 25, 6:46 AM,3 min,13°,10° above WNW,10° above N|2018-12-26 11:57:00.0,Wed Dec 26, 5:57 AM,1 min,19°,19° 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