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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Jan 15, 2021 through Saturday Jan 30, 2021

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Jan 18, 6:59 PM 1 min 19° 10° above SSW 19° above S  
Tue Jan 19, 6:12 PM 3 min 19° 10° above S 18° above ESE  
Tue Jan 19, 7:47 PM < 1 min 12° 10° above WSW 12° above WSW  
Wed Jan 20, 5:25 PM 3 min 12° 10° above SSE 10° above ESE  
Wed Jan 20, 7:00 PM 2 min 51° 12° above SW 51° above SSW  
Thu Jan 21, 6:13 PM 4 min 43° 12° above SW 25° above E  
Fri Jan 22, 5:25 PM 6 min 29° 10° above SSW 11° above E  
Fri Jan 22, 7:03 PM 1 min 59° 26° above W 59° above NW  
Sat Jan 23, 6:16 PM 3 min 86° 34° above WSW 27° above ENE  
Sat Jan 23, 7:52 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Sun Jan 24, 5:29 PM 5 min 66° 33° above SW 10° above ENE  
Sun Jan 24, 7:05 PM 2 min 42° 20° above WNW 42° above NNW  
Mon Jan 25, 6:18 PM 3 min 51° 25° above W 24° above NE  
Mon Jan 25, 7:54 PM < 1 min 14° 12° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Tue Jan 26, 5:31 PM 4 min 64° 40° above W 10° above ENE  
Tue Jan 26, 7:07 PM 2 min 36° 14° above WNW 36° above NNW  
Wed Jan 27, 6:20 PM 4 min 40° 17° above WNW 25° above NE  
Wed Jan 27, 7:56 PM < 1 min 15° 12° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Thu Jan 28, 5:33 PM 5 min 43° 20° above WNW 11° above ENE  
Thu Jan 28, 7:09 PM 2 min 40° 12° above WNW 40° above NNW  
Fri Jan 29, 6:22 PM 4 min 41° 14° above WNW 26° above ENE  
Fri Jan 29, 7:59 PM < 1 min 15° 15° above WNW 15° above WNW  
2021-01-19 02:59:00.0,Mon Jan 18, 6:59 PM,1 min,19°,10° above SSW,19° above S|2021-01-20 02:12:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 6:12 PM,3 min,19°,10° above S,18° above ESE|2021-01-20 03:47:00.0,Tue Jan 19, 7:47 PM,< 1 min,12°,10° above WSW,12° above WSW|2021-01-21 01:25:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 5:25 PM,3 min,12°,10° above SSE,10° above ESE|2021-01-21 03:00:00.0,Wed Jan 20, 7:00 PM,2 min,51°,12° above SW,51° above SSW|2021-01-22 02:13:00.0,Thu Jan 21, 6:13 PM,4 min,43°,12° above SW,25° above E|2021-01-23 01:25:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 5:25 PM,6 min,29°,10° above SSW,11° above E|2021-01-23 03:03:00.0,Fri Jan 22, 7:03 PM,1 min,59°,26° above W,59° above NW|2021-01-24 02:16:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 6:16 PM,3 min,86°,34° above WSW,27° above ENE|2021-01-24 03:52:00.0,Sat Jan 23, 7:52 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above WNW,14° above WNW|2021-01-25 01:29:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 5:29 PM,5 min,66°,33° above SW,10° above ENE|2021-01-25 03:05:00.0,Sun Jan 24, 7:05 PM,2 min,42°,20° above WNW,42° above NNW|2021-01-26 02:18:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 6:18 PM,3 min,51°,25° above W,24° above NE|2021-01-26 03:54:00.0,Mon Jan 25, 7:54 PM,< 1 min,14°,12° above WNW,14° above WNW|2021-01-27 01:31:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 5:31 PM,4 min,64°,40° above W,10° above ENE|2021-01-27 03:07:00.0,Tue Jan 26, 7:07 PM,2 min,36°,14° above WNW,36° above NNW|2021-01-28 02:20:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 6:20 PM,4 min,40°,17° above WNW,25° above NE|2021-01-28 03:56:00.0,Wed Jan 27, 7:56 PM,< 1 min,15°,12° above WNW,15° above WNW|2021-01-29 01:33:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 5:33 PM,5 min,43°,20° above WNW,11° above ENE|2021-01-29 03:09:00.0,Thu Jan 28, 7:09 PM,2 min,40°,12° above WNW,40° above NNW|2021-01-30 02:22:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 6:22 PM,4 min,41°,14° above WNW,26° above ENE|2021-01-30 03:59:00.0,Fri Jan 29, 7:59 PM,< 1 min,15°,15° above WNW,15° above WNW|

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