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Location: Seattle, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 14, 2020 through Tuesday Sep 29, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Wed Sep 16, 8:21 PM 1 min 14° 10° above SSE 14° above SE  
Thu Sep 17, 9:08 PM 2 min 37° 10° above SW 37° above SSW  
Fri Sep 18, 8:21 PM 4 min 32° 10° above SSW 23° above E  
Fri Sep 18, 9:58 PM 1 min 18° 10° above W 18° above W  
Sat Sep 19, 7:35 PM 5 min 22° 12° above S 10° above E  
Sat Sep 19, 9:10 PM 3 min 78° 10° above WSW 78° above NNW  
Sun Sep 20, 8:23 PM 5 min 75° 10° above WSW 22° above ENE  
Sun Sep 20, 10:00 PM < 1 min 17° 12° above W 17° above WNW  
Mon Sep 21, 7:36 PM 6 min 50° 10° above SW 11° above ENE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:14 PM 2 min 48° 21° above W 48° above N  
Tue Sep 22, 8:27 PM 3 min 59° 32° above W 21° above ENE  
Tue Sep 22, 10:03 PM < 1 min 17° 17° above WNW 17° above WNW  
Wed Sep 23, 7:40 PM 5 min 78° 34° above WSW 10° above ENE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:16 PM 1 min 39° 23° above WNW 39° above NNW  
Thu Sep 24, 8:29 PM 3 min 42° 28° above WNW 26° above NE  
Thu Sep 24, 10:05 PM < 1 min 14° 14° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Fri Sep 25, 7:42 PM 4 min 48° 35° above WNW 11° above ENE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:18 PM 1 min 33° 20° above NW 33° above NW  
Sat Sep 26, 8:31 PM 3 min 39° 23° above NW 29° above NE  
Sat Sep 26, 10:07 PM < 1 min 12° 12° above WNW 12° above WNW  
Sun Sep 27, 7:44 PM 4 min 39° 27° above NW 12° above ENE  
Sun Sep 27, 9:20 PM < 1 min 32° 22° above WNW 32° above NW  
Mon Sep 28, 8:33 PM 2 min 49° 25° above NW 45° above NE  
Mon Sep 28, 10:08 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above WNW 10° above WNW  
2020-09-17 03:21:00.0,Wed Sep 16, 8:21 PM,1 min,14°,10° above SSE,14° above SE|2020-09-18 04:08:00.0,Thu Sep 17, 9:08 PM,2 min,37°,10° above SW,37° above SSW|2020-09-19 03:21:00.0,Fri Sep 18, 8:21 PM,4 min,32°,10° above SSW,23° above E|2020-09-19 04:58:00.0,Fri Sep 18, 9:58 PM,1 min,18°,10° above W,18° above W|2020-09-20 02:35:00.0,Sat Sep 19, 7:35 PM,5 min,22°,12° above S,10° above E|2020-09-20 04:10:00.0,Sat Sep 19, 9:10 PM,3 min,78°,10° above WSW,78° above NNW|2020-09-21 03:23:00.0,Sun Sep 20, 8:23 PM,5 min,75°,10° above WSW,22° above ENE|2020-09-21 05:00:00.0,Sun Sep 20, 10:00 PM,< 1 min,17°,12° above W,17° above WNW|2020-09-22 02:36:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 7:36 PM,6 min,50°,10° above SW,11° above ENE|2020-09-22 04:14:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:14 PM,2 min,48°,21° above W,48° above N|2020-09-23 03:27:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:27 PM,3 min,59°,32° above W,21° above ENE|2020-09-23 05:03:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 10:03 PM,< 1 min,17°,17° above WNW,17° above WNW|2020-09-24 02:40:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:40 PM,5 min,78°,34° above WSW,10° above ENE|2020-09-24 04:16:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:16 PM,1 min,39°,23° above WNW,39° above NNW|2020-09-25 03:29:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:29 PM,3 min,42°,28° above WNW,26° above NE|2020-09-25 05:05:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 10:05 PM,< 1 min,14°,14° above WNW,14° above WNW|2020-09-26 02:42:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:42 PM,4 min,48°,35° above WNW,11° above ENE|2020-09-26 04:18:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:18 PM,1 min,33°,20° above NW,33° above NW|2020-09-27 03:31:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:31 PM,3 min,39°,23° above NW,29° above NE|2020-09-27 05:07:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 10:07 PM,< 1 min,12°,12° above WNW,12° above WNW|2020-09-28 02:44:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:44 PM,4 min,39°,27° above NW,12° above ENE|2020-09-28 04:20:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 9:20 PM,< 1 min,32°,22° above WNW,32° above NW|2020-09-29 03:33:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:33 PM,2 min,49°,25° above NW,45° above NE|2020-09-29 05:08:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 10:08 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above WNW,10° 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