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Location: Tyler, Texas, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 25, 2019 through Friday Dec 20, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Dec 7, 6:28 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above N 12° above N  
Sun Dec 8, 7:15 PM < 1 min 13° 11° above NW 13° above NW  
Mon Dec 9, 6:26 PM 3 min 33° 10° above NNW 33° above NE  
Tue Dec 10, 5:38 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NNW 10° above E  
Tue Dec 10, 7:15 PM 3 min 30° 11° above WNW 30° above SW  
Wed Dec 11, 6:26 PM 6 min 65° 10° above NW 11° above SE  
Thu Dec 12, 5:38 PM 6 min 59° 11° above NW 10° above SE  
Fri Dec 13, 6:29 PM 1 min 16° 16° above SW 11° above SSW  
Sat Dec 14, 5:38 PM 6 min 34° 12° above WNW 10° above SSE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 25, 2019 through Friday Dec 20, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 25, 6:11 PM 4 min 37° 29° above W 13° above NNE  
Tue Nov 26, 5:39 PM 4 min 46° 38° above W 10° above NE  
Thu Nov 28, 6:11 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NW 10° above NNW  
Fri Nov 29, 5:38 PM 3 min 13° 10° above WNW 10° above N  

The following DRAGON sightings are possible from Monday Nov 25, 2019 through Friday Dec 20, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Dec 7, 6:28 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above N 11° above N  
2019-12-08 00:28:00.0,Sat Dec 7, 6:28 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above N,12° above N|2019-12-09 01:15:00.0,Sun Dec 8, 7:15 PM,< 1 min,13°,11° above NW,13° above NW|2019-12-10 00:26:00.0,Mon Dec 9, 6:26 PM,3 min,33°,10° above NNW,33° above NE|2019-12-10 23:38:00.0,Tue Dec 10, 5:38 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NNW,10° above E|2019-12-11 01:15:00.0,Tue Dec 10, 7:15 PM,3 min,30°,11° above WNW,30° above SW|2019-12-12 00:26:00.0,Wed Dec 11, 6:26 PM,6 min,65°,10° above NW,11° above SE|2019-12-12 23:38:00.0,Thu Dec 12, 5:38 PM,6 min,59°,11° above NW,10° above SE|2019-12-14 00:29:00.0,Fri Dec 13, 6:29 PM,1 min,16°,16° above SW,11° above SSW|2019-12-14 23:38:00.0,Sat Dec 14, 5:38 PM,6 min,34°,12° 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

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton