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Sighting Location

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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Wednesday Sep 20, 2023 through Thursday Oct 5, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 20, 8:20 PM 6 min 48° 10° above W 14° above ENE  
Wed Sep 20, 9:57 PM 2 min 26° 10° above WNW 26° above NW  
Thu Sep 21, 9:09 PM 3 min 40° 10° above WNW 39° above NNE  
Fri Sep 22, 8:21 PM 5 min 39° 10° above WNW 17° above ENE  
Fri Sep 22, 9:58 PM 1 min 21° 10° above WNW 21° above WNW  
Sat Sep 23, 9:10 PM 3 min 47° 10° above WNW 47° above N  
Sun Sep 24, 8:22 PM 5 min 42° 10° above WNW 22° above ENE  
Sun Sep 24, 9:58 PM 1 min 18° 10° above WNW 18° above WNW  
Mon Sep 25, 7:34 PM 6 min 39° 10° above WNW 10° above ENE  
Mon Sep 25, 9:10 PM 3 min 56° 10° above WNW 56° above NW  
Tue Sep 26, 8:22 PM 5 min 59° 10° above WNW 33° above E  
Tue Sep 26, 9:59 PM < 1 min 13° 10° above WNW 13° above W  
Wed Sep 27, 7:34 PM 7 min 48° 10° above WNW 10° above E  
Wed Sep 27, 9:11 PM 3 min 40° 10° above WNW 40° above WSW  
Thu Sep 28, 8:23 PM 5 min 77° 10° above WNW 35° above SE  
Fri Sep 29, 7:35 PM 7 min 76° 10° above WNW 11° above ESE  
Fri Sep 29, 9:12 PM 2 min 22° 10° above W 22° above SW  
Sat Sep 30, 8:24 PM 5 min 35° 10° above WNW 22° above SSE  
Sun Oct 1, 7:36 PM 7 min 53° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Mon Oct 2, 8:25 PM 4 min 15° 10° above W 10° above S  
Tue Oct 3, 7:37 PM 5 min 23° 10° above W 10° above SSE  
{ts '2023-09-21 03:20:00'},Wed Sep 20, 8:20 PM,6 min,48°,10° above W,14° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-21 04:57:00'},Wed Sep 20, 9:57 PM,2 min,26°,10° above WNW,26° above NW|{ts '2023-09-22 04:09:00'},Thu Sep 21, 9:09 PM,3 min,40°,10° above WNW,39° above NNE|{ts '2023-09-23 03:21:00'},Fri Sep 22, 8:21 PM,5 min,39°,10° above WNW,17° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-23 04:58:00'},Fri Sep 22, 9:58 PM,1 min,21°,10° above WNW,21° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-24 04:10:00'},Sat Sep 23, 9:10 PM,3 min,47°,10° above WNW,47° above N|{ts '2023-09-25 03:22:00'},Sun Sep 24, 8:22 PM,5 min,42°,10° above WNW,22° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-25 04:58:00'},Sun Sep 24, 9:58 PM,1 min,18°,10° above WNW,18° above WNW|{ts '2023-09-26 02:34:00'},Mon Sep 25, 7:34 PM,6 min,39°,10° above WNW,10° above ENE|{ts '2023-09-26 04:10:00'},Mon Sep 25, 9:10 PM,3 min,56°,10° above WNW,56° above NW|{ts '2023-09-27 03:22:00'},Tue Sep 26, 8:22 PM,5 min,59°,10° above WNW,33° above E|{ts '2023-09-27 04:59:00'},Tue Sep 26, 9:59 PM,< 1 min,13°,10° above WNW,13° above W|{ts '2023-09-28 02:34:00'},Wed Sep 27, 7:34 PM,7 min,48°,10° above WNW,10° above E|{ts '2023-09-28 04:11:00'},Wed Sep 27, 9:11 PM,3 min,40°,10° above WNW,40° above WSW|{ts '2023-09-29 03:23:00'},Thu Sep 28, 8:23 PM,5 min,77°,10° above WNW,35° above SE|{ts '2023-09-30 02:35:00'},Fri Sep 29, 7:35 PM,7 min,76°,10° above WNW,11° above ESE|{ts '2023-09-30 04:12:00'},Fri Sep 29, 9:12 PM,2 min,22°,10° above W,22° above SW|{ts '2023-10-01 03:24:00'},Sat Sep 30, 8:24 PM,5 min,35°,10° above WNW,22° above SSE|{ts '2023-10-02 02:36:00'},Sun Oct 1, 7:36 PM,7 min,53°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2023-10-03 03:25:00'},Mon Oct 2, 8:25 PM,4 min,15°,10° above W,10° above S|{ts '2023-10-04 02:37:00'},Tue Oct 3, 7:37 PM,5 min,23°,10° above W,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 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