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Sighting Location

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Location: Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Saturday Jan 19, 2019 through Sunday Feb 3, 2019

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sun Jan 20, 7:45 PM < 1 min 16° 10° above SW 16° above SW  
Mon Jan 21, 6:54 PM 3 min 33° 10° above SSW 33° above SE  
Tue Jan 22, 6:03 PM 4 min 17° 10° above S 11° above E  
Tue Jan 22, 7:40 PM < 1 min 31° 21° above W 31° above W  
Wed Jan 23, 6:48 PM 3 min 88° 23° above SW 38° above NE  
Thu Jan 24, 5:57 PM 5 min 45° 16° above SSW 11° above ENE  
Thu Jan 24, 7:34 PM 1 min 23° 15° above WNW 23° above NW  
Fri Jan 25, 6:43 PM 3 min 37° 28° above WNW 19° above NNE  
Sat Jan 26, 7:28 PM 2 min 15° 11° above NW 15° above NNW  
Sun Jan 27, 6:36 PM 4 min 20° 14° above WNW 12° above NNE  
Mon Jan 28, 7:23 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above NNW  
Tue Jan 29, 6:31 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Jan 30, 7:18 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above N  
Thu Jan 31, 6:25 PM 2 min 11° 10° above NNW 10° above NNE  
Fri Feb 1, 7:11 PM 1 min 12° 10° above NNW 12° above N  
2019-01-21 00:45:00.0,Sun Jan 20, 7:45 PM,< 1 min,16°,10° above SW,16° above SW|2019-01-21 23:54:00.0,Mon Jan 21, 6:54 PM,3 min,33°,10° above SSW,33° above SE|2019-01-22 23:03:00.0,Tue Jan 22, 6:03 PM,4 min,17°,10° above S,11° above E|2019-01-23 00:40:00.0,Tue Jan 22, 7:40 PM,< 1 min,31°,21° above W,31° above W|2019-01-23 23:48:00.0,Wed Jan 23, 6:48 PM,3 min,88°,23° above SW,38° above NE|2019-01-24 22:57:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 5:57 PM,5 min,45°,16° above SSW,11° above ENE|2019-01-25 00:34:00.0,Thu Jan 24, 7:34 PM,1 min,23°,15° above WNW,23° above NW|2019-01-25 23:43:00.0,Fri Jan 25, 6:43 PM,3 min,37°,28° above WNW,19° above NNE|2019-01-27 00:28:00.0,Sat Jan 26, 7:28 PM,2 min,15°,11° above NW,15° above NNW|2019-01-27 23:36:00.0,Sun Jan 27, 6:36 PM,4 min,20°,14° above WNW,12° above NNE|2019-01-29 00:23:00.0,Mon Jan 28, 7:23 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above NNW|2019-01-29 23:31:00.0,Tue Jan 29, 6:31 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2019-01-31 00:18:00.0,Wed Jan 30, 7:18 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above N|2019-01-31 23:25:00.0,Thu Jan 31, 6:25 PM,2 min,11°,10° above NNW,10° above NNE|2019-02-02 00:11:00.0,Fri Feb 1, 7:11 PM,1 min,12°,10° above NNW,12° above N|

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