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Location: Vancouver, Washington, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Nov 27, 2023 through Tuesday Dec 12, 2023

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Nov 27, 6:36 PM 2 min 30° 10° above NW 30° above NNW  
Tue Nov 28, 5:47 PM 4 min 30° 10° above NW 23° above NE  
Tue Nov 28, 7:24 PM < 1 min 14° 10° above WNW 14° above WNW  
Wed Nov 29, 6:36 PM 2 min 42° 10° above WNW 42° above NNW  
Thu Nov 30, 5:47 PM 4 min 43° 10° above NW 29° above ENE  
Thu Nov 30, 7:24 PM 1 min 15° 10° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Fri Dec 1, 6:36 PM 3 min 60° 10° above WNW 60° above WSW  
Sat Dec 2, 5:47 PM 6 min 81° 10° above WNW 19° above ESE  
Sat Dec 2, 7:25 PM 1 min 14° 10° above W 14° above WSW  
Sun Dec 3, 6:36 PM 4 min 27° 10° above W 21° above S  
Mon Dec 4, 5:47 PM 6 min 43° 10° above WNW 10° above SE  
Tue Dec 5, 6:37 PM 2 min 11° 10° above WSW 10° above SSW  
Wed Dec 6, 5:48 PM 5 min 18° 10° above W 10° above S  
{ts '2023-11-28 02:36:00'},Mon Nov 27, 6:36 PM,2 min,30°,10° above NW,30° above NNW|{ts '2023-11-29 01:47:00'},Tue Nov 28, 5:47 PM,4 min,30°,10° above NW,23° above NE|{ts '2023-11-29 03:24:00'},Tue Nov 28, 7:24 PM,< 1 min,14°,10° above WNW,14° above WNW|{ts '2023-11-30 02:36:00'},Wed Nov 29, 6:36 PM,2 min,42°,10° above WNW,42° above NNW|{ts '2023-12-01 01:47:00'},Thu Nov 30, 5:47 PM,4 min,43°,10° above NW,29° above ENE|{ts '2023-12-01 03:24:00'},Thu Nov 30, 7:24 PM,1 min,15°,10° above WNW,15° above WNW|{ts '2023-12-02 02:36:00'},Fri Dec 1, 6:36 PM,3 min,60°,10° above WNW,60° above WSW|{ts '2023-12-03 01:47:00'},Sat Dec 2, 5:47 PM,6 min,81°,10° above WNW,19° above ESE|{ts '2023-12-03 03:25:00'},Sat Dec 2, 7:25 PM,1 min,14°,10° above W,14° above WSW|{ts '2023-12-04 02:36:00'},Sun Dec 3, 6:36 PM,4 min,27°,10° above W,21° above S|{ts '2023-12-05 01:47:00'},Mon Dec 4, 5:47 PM,6 min,43°,10° above WNW,10° above SE|{ts '2023-12-06 02:37:00'},Tue Dec 5, 6:37 PM,2 min,11°,10° above WSW,10° above SSW|{ts '2023-12-07 01:48:00'},Wed Dec 6, 5:48 PM,5 min,18°,10° above W,10° above S|

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.