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Sighting Location

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Location: Johnson Space Center, Texas, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Tuesday Feb 12, 2019 through Friday Mar 1, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Feb 20, 6:36 AM < 1 min 13° 11° above SSW 13° above SSW  
Thu Feb 21, 5:45 AM 3 min 25° 11° above S 25° above ESE  
Fri Feb 22, 4:56 AM 2 min 12° 10° above SE 11° above ESE  
Fri Feb 22, 6:30 AM 5 min 36° 10° above WSW 21° above NNE  
Sat Feb 23, 5:40 AM 4 min 86° 31° above SW 12° above NE  
Sun Feb 24, 4:51 AM 1 min 25° 25° above E 12° above ENE  
Sun Feb 24, 6:25 AM 3 min 14° 10° above WNW 11° above N  
Mon Feb 25, 5:36 AM 2 min 25° 25° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Tue Feb 26, 4:47 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above NE 10° above NE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Tuesday Feb 12, 2019 through Friday Mar 1, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Feb 12, 7:33 PM 1 min 12° 12° above SW 10° above SW  
Wed Feb 13, 6:44 PM 1 min 14° 14° above SW 10° above SSW  
Wed Feb 20, 5:47 AM < 1 min 10° 10° above SE 10° above SE  
Thu Feb 21, 5:56 AM 3 min 35° 10° above SSW 33° above ESE  
Fri Feb 22, 6:08 AM 5 min 52° 14° above WSW 10° above NE  
Sat Feb 23, 6:19 AM 3 min 17° 11° above W 11° above N  
Sun Feb 24, 5:00 AM < 1 min 13° 13° above NE 10° above NE  
2019-02-20 12:36:00.0,Wed Feb 20, 6:36 AM,< 1 min,13°,11° above SSW,13° above SSW|2019-02-21 11:45:00.0,Thu Feb 21, 5:45 AM,3 min,25°,11° above S,25° above ESE|2019-02-22 10:56:00.0,Fri Feb 22, 4:56 AM,2 min,12°,10° above SE,11° above ESE|2019-02-22 12:30:00.0,Fri Feb 22, 6:30 AM,5 min,36°,10° above WSW,21° above NNE|2019-02-23 11:40:00.0,Sat Feb 23, 5:40 AM,4 min,86°,31° above SW,12° above NE|2019-02-24 10:51:00.0,Sun Feb 24, 4:51 AM,1 min,25°,25° above E,12° above ENE|2019-02-24 12:25:00.0,Sun Feb 24, 6:25 AM,3 min,14°,10° above WNW,11° above N|2019-02-25 11:36:00.0,Mon Feb 25, 5:36 AM,2 min,25°,25° above NNW,10° above NNE|2019-02-26 10:47:00.0,Tue Feb 26, 4:47 AM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NE,10° above NE|

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