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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 24, 2021 through Sunday Oct 10, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Fri Sep 24, 7:43 PM 7 min 48° 10° above W 10° above ENE  
Fri Sep 24, 9:20 PM 3 min 39° 10° above WNW 39° above NNW  
Sat Sep 25, 8:33 PM 4 min 40° 10° above WNW 28° above NE  
Sat Sep 25, 10:10 PM 1 min 14° 10° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Sun Sep 26, 7:45 PM 6 min 40° 10° above WNW 11° above ENE  
Sun Sep 26, 9:22 PM 2 min 37° 10° above WNW 37° above NW  
Mon Sep 27, 8:35 PM 4 min 49° 10° above WNW 40° above NE  
Tue Sep 28, 7:48 PM 6 min 43° 10° above WNW 15° above ENE  
Tue Sep 28, 9:25 PM 2 min 33° 10° above WNW 33° above WNW  
Wed Sep 29, 8:37 PM 4 min 81° 10° above WNW 73° above E  
Thu Sep 30, 7:50 PM 6 min 61° 10° above WNW 19° above E  
Thu Sep 30, 9:27 PM 1 min 21° 10° above W 21° above W  
Fri Oct 1, 8:40 PM 4 min 48° 10° above WNW 46° above SSW  
Sat Oct 2, 7:52 PM 6 min 71° 10° above WNW 19° above SE  
Sat Oct 2, 9:30 PM 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above WSW  
Sun Oct 3, 8:42 PM 3 min 21° 10° above W 19° above SSW  
Mon Oct 4, 7:54 PM 6 min 31° 10° above W 12° above SSE  
Wed Oct 6, 7:57 PM 3 min 13° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Thu Oct 7, 7:09 PM 5 min 21° 10° above W 10° above S  
2021-09-25 02:43:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 7:43 PM,7 min,48°,10° above W,10° above ENE|2021-09-25 04:20:00.0,Fri Sep 24, 9:20 PM,3 min,39°,10° above WNW,39° above NNW|2021-09-26 03:33:00.0,Sat Sep 25, 8:33 PM,4 min,40°,10° above WNW,28° above NE|2021-09-26 05:10:00.0,Sat Sep 25, 10:10 PM,1 min,14°,10° above WNW,14° above WNW|2021-09-27 02:45:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 7:45 PM,6 min,40°,10° above WNW,11° above ENE|2021-09-27 04:22:00.0,Sun Sep 26, 9:22 PM,2 min,37°,10° above WNW,37° above NW|2021-09-28 03:35:00.0,Mon Sep 27, 8:35 PM,4 min,49°,10° above WNW,40° above NE|2021-09-29 02:48:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 7:48 PM,6 min,43°,10° above WNW,15° above ENE|2021-09-29 04:25:00.0,Tue Sep 28, 9:25 PM,2 min,33°,10° above WNW,33° above WNW|2021-09-30 03:37:00.0,Wed Sep 29, 8:37 PM,4 min,81°,10° above WNW,73° above E|2021-10-01 02:50:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 7:50 PM,6 min,61°,10° above WNW,19° above E|2021-10-01 04:27:00.0,Thu Sep 30, 9:27 PM,1 min,21°,10° above W,21° above W|2021-10-02 03:40:00.0,Fri Oct 1, 8:40 PM,4 min,48°,10° above WNW,46° above SSW|2021-10-03 02:52:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 7:52 PM,6 min,71°,10° above WNW,19° above SE|2021-10-03 04:30:00.0,Sat Oct 2, 9:30 PM,1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above WSW|2021-10-04 03:42:00.0,Sun Oct 3, 8:42 PM,3 min,21°,10° above W,19° above SSW|2021-10-05 02:54:00.0,Mon Oct 4, 7:54 PM,6 min,31°,10° above W,12° above SSE|2021-10-07 02:57:00.0,Wed Oct 6, 7:57 PM,3 min,13°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|2021-10-08 02:09:00.0,Thu Oct 7, 7:09 PM,5 min,21°,10° above W,10° above S|

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