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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 11, 2019 through Thursday Oct 31, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Tue Oct 22, 7:08 AM 1 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SE  
Thu Oct 24, 7:06 AM 3 min 31° 10° above SSW 30° above SE  
Fri Oct 25, 6:19 AM 3 min 20° 10° above S 19° above SE  
Sat Oct 26, 5:31 AM 3 min 13° 10° above SSE 11° above ESE  
Sat Oct 26, 7:06 AM 5 min 69° 10° above SW 32° above ENE  
Sun Oct 27, 6:18 AM 3 min 45° 18° above SW 31° above E  
Mon Oct 28, 5:32 AM 1 min 29° 29° above SE 21° above E  
Mon Oct 28, 7:05 AM 6 min 64° 10° above WSW 14° above ENE  
Tue Oct 29, 4:45 AM < 1 min 12° 12° above E 10° above E  
Tue Oct 29, 6:18 AM 3 min 86° 34° above WSW 22° above ENE  
Wed Oct 30, 5:32 AM 1 min 39° 39° above E 21° above ENE  
Wed Oct 30, 7:05 AM 6 min 44° 12° above W 13° above ENE  
Thu Oct 31, 6:18 AM 3 min 52° 37° above WNW 17° above ENE  

The following CYGNUS sightings are possible from Friday Oct 11, 2019 through Thursday Oct 31, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Oct 11, 7:49 PM 3 min 14° 13° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Sat Oct 12, 7:17 PM 3 min 17° 17° above SW 10° above S  
Fri Oct 25, 7:17 AM < 1 min 14° 10° above SSW 14° above SSW  
2019-10-22 14:08:00.0,Tue Oct 22, 7:08 AM,1 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SE|2019-10-24 14:06:00.0,Thu Oct 24, 7:06 AM,3 min,31°,10° above SSW,30° above SE|2019-10-25 13:19:00.0,Fri Oct 25, 6:19 AM,3 min,20°,10° above S,19° above SE|2019-10-26 12:31:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 5:31 AM,3 min,13°,10° above SSE,11° above ESE|2019-10-26 14:06:00.0,Sat Oct 26, 7:06 AM,5 min,69°,10° above SW,32° above ENE|2019-10-27 13:18:00.0,Sun Oct 27, 6:18 AM,3 min,45°,18° above SW,31° above E|2019-10-28 12:32:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 5:32 AM,1 min,29°,29° above SE,21° above E|2019-10-28 14:05:00.0,Mon Oct 28, 7:05 AM,6 min,64°,10° above WSW,14° above ENE|2019-10-29 11:45:00.0,Tue Oct 29, 4:45 AM,< 1 min,12°,12° above E,10° above E|2019-10-29 13:18:00.0,Tue Oct 29, 6:18 AM,3 min,86°,34° above WSW,22° above ENE|2019-10-30 12:32:00.0,Wed Oct 30, 5:32 AM,1 min,39°,39° above E,21° above ENE|2019-10-30 14:05:00.0,Wed Oct 30, 7:05 AM,6 min,44°,12° above W,13° above ENE|2019-10-31 13:18:00.0,Thu Oct 31, 6:18 AM,3 min,52°,37° above WNW,17° above ENE|

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