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Location: Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Sep 14, 2018 through Sunday Sep 30, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Sat Sep 15, 5:11 AM 2 min 26° 21° above N 23° above NE  
Sun Sep 16, 5:55 AM 6 min 79° 15° above NW 10° above SE  
Mon Sep 17, 5:06 AM 3 min 46° 46° above ENE 10° above ESE  
Mon Sep 17, 6:40 AM 4 min 15° 11° above W 10° above SSW  
Tue Sep 18, 5:50 AM 3 min 29° 29° above SW 11° above SSE  
Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM 2 min 24° 11° above SSW 24° above SSE  
Fri Sep 21, 7:52 PM 4 min 15° 11° above SSE 10° above E  
Fri Sep 21, 9:26 PM 2 min 27° 10° above WSW 27° above WSW  
Sat Sep 22, 8:34 PM 5 min 75° 10° above SW 29° above ENE  
Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM 6 min 36° 10° above SSW 12° above ENE  
Sun Sep 23, 9:21 PM 1 min 27° 23° above WNW 27° above NNW  
Mon Sep 24, 8:29 PM 4 min 44° 30° above W 14° above NE  
Tue Sep 25, 7:36 PM 5 min 83° 23° above SW 11° above NE  
Tue Sep 25, 9:14 PM 2 min 17° 15° above NW 16° above N  
Wed Sep 26, 8:22 PM 3 min 23° 21° above NW 11° above NNE  
Thu Sep 27, 7:32 PM 2 min 26° 26° above NNE 11° above NE  
Thu Sep 27, 9:07 PM 2 min 12° 10° above NW 12° above N  
Fri Sep 28, 8:14 PM 3 min 15° 13° above NW 10° above NNE  
2018-09-15 09:11:00.0,Sat Sep 15, 5:11 AM,2 min,26°,21° above N,23° above NE|2018-09-16 09:55:00.0,Sun Sep 16, 5:55 AM,6 min,79°,15° above NW,10° above SE|2018-09-17 09:06:00.0,Mon Sep 17, 5:06 AM,3 min,46°,46° above ENE,10° above ESE|2018-09-17 10:40:00.0,Mon Sep 17, 6:40 AM,4 min,15°,11° above W,10° above SSW|2018-09-18 09:50:00.0,Tue Sep 18, 5:50 AM,3 min,29°,29° above SW,11° above SSE|2018-09-21 00:43:00.0,Thu Sep 20, 8:43 PM,2 min,24°,11° above SSW,24° above SSE|2018-09-21 23:52:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 7:52 PM,4 min,15°,11° above SSE,10° above E|2018-09-22 01:26:00.0,Fri Sep 21, 9:26 PM,2 min,27°,10° above WSW,27° above WSW|2018-09-23 00:34:00.0,Sat Sep 22, 8:34 PM,5 min,75°,10° above SW,29° above ENE|2018-09-23 23:43:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 7:43 PM,6 min,36°,10° above SSW,12° above ENE|2018-09-24 01:21:00.0,Sun Sep 23, 9:21 PM,1 min,27°,23° above WNW,27° above NNW|2018-09-25 00:29:00.0,Mon Sep 24, 8:29 PM,4 min,44°,30° above W,14° above NE|2018-09-25 23:36:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 7:36 PM,5 min,83°,23° above SW,11° above NE|2018-09-26 01:14:00.0,Tue Sep 25, 9:14 PM,2 min,17°,15° above NW,16° above N|2018-09-27 00:22:00.0,Wed Sep 26, 8:22 PM,3 min,23°,21° above NW,11° above NNE|2018-09-27 23:32:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 7:32 PM,2 min,26°,26° above NNE,11° above NE|2018-09-28 01:07:00.0,Thu Sep 27, 9:07 PM,2 min,12°,10° above NW,12° above N|2018-09-29 00:14:00.0,Fri Sep 28, 8:14 PM,3 min,15°,13° above NW,10° above NNE|

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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