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Location: Alexandria, Virginia, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday May 15, 2024 through Thursday May 30, 2024

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed May 15, 9:18 PM 5 min 17° 10° above WNW 10° above NNE  
Thu May 16, 12:34 AM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above N  
Thu May 16, 11:45 PM 2 min 11° 10° above N 11° above NNE  
Fri May 17, 9:17 PM 2 min 12° 10° above NW 10° above N  
Sat May 18, 12:31 AM 1 min 13° 10° above NNW 13° above NNW  
Sat May 18, 11:41 PM 2 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above N  
Sun May 19, 10:52 PM 3 min 13° 10° above NNW 11° above NE  
Mon May 20, 12:27 AM < 1 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above NW  
Mon May 20, 10:02 PM 2 min 11° 10° above N 10° above NNE  
Mon May 20, 11:38 PM 2 min 23° 10° above NW 23° above N  
Tue May 21, 10:48 PM 3 min 21° 10° above NNW 20° above NE  
Wed May 22, 9:58 PM 4 min 16° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Wed May 22, 11:34 PM 1 min 24° 10° above NW 24° above NW  
Thu May 23, 9:09 PM 3 min 12° 10° above N 10° above NE  
Thu May 23, 10:44 PM 3 min 42° 10° above NW 42° above NNE  
Fri May 24, 9:55 PM 5 min 27° 10° above NNW 18° above ENE  
Fri May 24, 11:32 PM 1 min 17° 10° above WNW 17° above WNW  
Sat May 25, 9:07 PM 5 min 19° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Sat May 25, 10:43 PM 3 min 52° 10° above WNW 52° above W  
Sun May 26, 9:54 PM 5 min 67° 10° above NW 34° above ESE  
Mon May 27, 9:05 PM 6 min 39° 10° above NW 9° above ESE  
Mon May 27, 10:42 PM 2 min 21° 10° above W 21° above WSW  
Tue May 28, 9:53 PM 4 min 38° 10° above WNW 27° above S  
Wed May 29, 9:04 PM 7 min 75° 10° above NW 10° above SE  
{ts '2024-05-16 01:18:00'},Wed May 15, 9:18 PM,5 min,17°,10° above WNW,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-05-16 04:34:00'},Thu May 16, 12:34 AM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above N|{ts '2024-05-17 03:45:00'},Thu May 16, 11:45 PM,2 min,11°,10° above N,11° above NNE|{ts '2024-05-18 01:17:00'},Fri May 17, 9:17 PM,2 min,12°,10° above NW,10° above N|{ts '2024-05-18 04:31:00'},Sat May 18, 12:31 AM,1 min,13°,10° above NNW,13° above NNW|{ts '2024-05-19 03:41:00'},Sat May 18, 11:41 PM,2 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above N|{ts '2024-05-20 02:52:00'},Sun May 19, 10:52 PM,3 min,13°,10° above NNW,11° above NE|{ts '2024-05-20 04:27:00'},Mon May 20, 12:27 AM,< 1 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above NW|{ts '2024-05-21 02:02:00'},Mon May 20, 10:02 PM,2 min,11°,10° above N,10° above NNE|{ts '2024-05-21 03:38:00'},Mon May 20, 11:38 PM,2 min,23°,10° above NW,23° above N|{ts '2024-05-22 02:48:00'},Tue May 21, 10:48 PM,3 min,21°,10° above NNW,20° above NE|{ts '2024-05-23 01:58:00'},Wed May 22, 9:58 PM,4 min,16°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-05-23 03:34:00'},Wed May 22, 11:34 PM,1 min,24°,10° above NW,24° above NW|{ts '2024-05-24 01:09:00'},Thu May 23, 9:09 PM,3 min,12°,10° above N,10° above NE|{ts '2024-05-24 02:44:00'},Thu May 23, 10:44 PM,3 min,42°,10° above NW,42° above NNE|{ts '2024-05-25 01:55:00'},Fri May 24, 9:55 PM,5 min,27°,10° above NNW,18° above ENE|{ts '2024-05-25 03:32:00'},Fri May 24, 11:32 PM,1 min,17°,10° above WNW,17° above WNW|{ts '2024-05-26 01:07:00'},Sat May 25, 9:07 PM,5 min,19°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2024-05-26 02:43:00'},Sat May 25, 10:43 PM,3 min,52°,10° above WNW,52° above W|{ts '2024-05-27 01:54:00'},Sun May 26, 9:54 PM,5 min,67°,10° above NW,34° above ESE|{ts '2024-05-28 01:05:00'},Mon May 27, 9:05 PM,6 min,39°,10° above NW,9° above ESE|{ts '2024-05-28 02:42:00'},Mon May 27, 10:42 PM,2 min,21°,10° above W,21° above WSW|{ts '2024-05-29 01:53:00'},Tue May 28, 9:53 PM,4 min,38°,10° above WNW,27° above S|{ts '2024-05-30 01:04:00'},Wed May 29, 9:04 PM,7 min,75°,10° above NW,10° above SE|

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 chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

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