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Sighting Location

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Location: Johnson Space Center, Texas, 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
Mon Oct 21, 6:44 AM 2 min 25° 11° above S 25° above SE  
Tue Oct 22, 5:56 AM 2 min 13° 10° above SSE 13° above SE  
Wed Oct 23, 6:43 AM 6 min 75° 10° above SW 11° above NE  
Thu Oct 24, 5:56 AM 4 min 48° 33° above S 12° above ENE  
Fri Oct 25, 5:11 AM < 1 min 15° 15° above E 15° above E  
Fri Oct 25, 6:44 AM 4 min 21° 16° above WNW 11° above NNE  
Sat Oct 26, 5:58 AM 2 min 28° 28° above N 10° 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, 8:16 PM 4 min 81° 10° above NW 52° above SSE  
Sat Oct 12, 7:44 PM 6 min 77° 11° above NW 15° above SE  
Sun Oct 13, 7:11 PM 7 min 58° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
Mon Oct 14, 8:19 PM 2 min 12° 12° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Tue Oct 15, 7:47 PM 2 min 16° 16° above SW 10° above SSW  
Wed Oct 16, 7:15 PM 2 min 20° 20° above SW 10° above S  
Wed Oct 23, 7:08 AM < 1 min 12° 10° above SW 12° above SSW  
Thu Oct 24, 6:35 AM 7 min 50° 10° above SSW 10° above NE  
Fri Oct 25, 6:03 AM 5 min 38° 10° above SSW 26° above E  
Sat Oct 26, 5:33 AM 2 min 29° 27° above SE 21° above E  
Sat Oct 26, 7:09 AM 1 min 17° 10° above W 17° above WNW  
2019-10-21 11:44:00.0,Mon Oct 21, 6:44 AM,2 min,25°,11° above S,25° above SE|2019-10-22 10:56:00.0,Tue Oct 22, 5:56 AM,2 min,13°,10° above SSE,13° above SE|2019-10-23 11:43:00.0,Wed Oct 23, 6:43 AM,6 min,75°,10° above SW,11° above NE|2019-10-24 10:56:00.0,Thu Oct 24, 5:56 AM,4 min,48°,33° above S,12° above ENE|2019-10-25 10:11:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 5:11 AM,< 1 min,15°,15° above E,15° above E|2019-10-25 11:44:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 6:44 AM,4 min,21°,16° above WNW,11° above NNE|2019-10-26 10:58:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 5:58 AM,2 min,28°,28° above N,10° 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