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Location: Johnson Space Center, Texas, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Jun 20, 2018 through Friday Jul 6, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Jun 28, 5:59 AM 3 min 69° 11° above SW 69° above SE  
Fri Jun 29, 5:08 AM 3 min 27° 16° above S 19° above E  
Sat Jun 30, 4:18 AM 1 min 12° 12° above ESE 10° above E  
Sat Jun 30, 5:51 AM 5 min 35° 12° above WSW 18° above NNE  
Sun Jul 1, 5:01 AM 2 min 84° 48° above SW 28° above NE  
Mon Jul 2, 4:11 AM 1 min 30° 30° above E 15° above ENE  
Mon Jul 2, 5:44 AM 4 min 14° 10° above WNW 10° above N  
Tue Jul 3, 4:53 AM 3 min 27° 25° above WNW 12° above NNE  
Wed Jul 4, 4:03 AM < 1 min 27° 27° above NNE 22° above NNE  
Thu Jul 5, 4:46 AM 2 min 11° 11° above NW 10° above NNW  
2018-06-28 10:59:00.0,Thu Jun 28, 5:59 AM,3 min,69°,11° above SW,69° above SE|2018-06-29 10:08:00.0,Fri Jun 29, 5:08 AM,3 min,27°,16° above S,19° above E|2018-06-30 09:18:00.0,Sat Jun 30, 4:18 AM,1 min,12°,12° above ESE,10° above E|2018-06-30 10:51:00.0,Sat Jun 30, 5:51 AM,5 min,35°,12° above WSW,18° above NNE|2018-07-01 10:01:00.0,Sun Jul 1, 5:01 AM,2 min,84°,48° above SW,28° above NE|2018-07-02 09:11:00.0,Mon Jul 2, 4:11 AM,1 min,30°,30° above E,15° above ENE|2018-07-02 10:44:00.0,Mon Jul 2, 5:44 AM,4 min,14°,10° above WNW,10° above N|2018-07-03 09:53:00.0,Tue Jul 3, 4:53 AM,3 min,27°,25° above WNW,12° above NNE|2018-07-04 09:03:00.0,Wed Jul 4, 4:03 AM,< 1 min,27°,27° above NNE,22° above NNE|2018-07-05 09:46:00.0,Thu Jul 5, 4:46 AM,2 min,11°,11° above NW,10° above NNW|

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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