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Location: Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Friday Nov 16, 2018 through Saturday Dec 1, 2018

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Thu Nov 22, 6:49 PM 2 min 25° 10° above SSW 25° above S  
Fri Nov 23, 5:58 PM 3 min 18° 10° above S 15° above ESE  
Fri Nov 23, 7:34 PM < 1 min 15° 15° above WSW 15° above WSW  
Sat Nov 24, 6:42 PM 2 min 79° 19° above SW 79° above WSW  
Sun Nov 25, 5:50 PM 5 min 46° 13° above SSW 15° above ENE  
Sun Nov 25, 7:27 PM < 1 min 15° 13° above WNW 15° above WNW  
Mon Nov 26, 6:35 PM 2 min 36° 24° above W 33° above N  
Tue Nov 27, 5:44 PM 4 min 67° 44° above W 12° above NE  
Tue Nov 27, 7:20 PM < 1 min 12° 11° above NW 12° above NW  
Wed Nov 28, 6:27 PM 3 min 21° 12° above WNW 18° above N  
Thu Nov 29, 5:35 PM 4 min 31° 22° above WNW 11° above NE  
Fri Nov 30, 6:20 PM 3 min 14° 10° above NW 13° above N  
2018-11-22 23:49:00.0,Thu Nov 22, 6:49 PM,2 min,25°,10° above SSW,25° above S|2018-11-23 22:58:00.0,Fri Nov 23, 5:58 PM,3 min,18°,10° above S,15° above ESE|2018-11-24 00:34:00.0,Fri Nov 23, 7:34 PM,< 1 min,15°,15° above WSW,15° above WSW|2018-11-24 23:42:00.0,Sat Nov 24, 6:42 PM,2 min,79°,19° above SW,79° above WSW|2018-11-25 22:50:00.0,Sun Nov 25, 5:50 PM,5 min,46°,13° above SSW,15° above ENE|2018-11-26 00:27:00.0,Sun Nov 25, 7:27 PM,< 1 min,15°,13° above WNW,15° above WNW|2018-11-26 23:35:00.0,Mon Nov 26, 6:35 PM,2 min,36°,24° above W,33° above N|2018-11-27 22:44:00.0,Tue Nov 27, 5:44 PM,4 min,67°,44° above W,12° above NE|2018-11-28 00:20:00.0,Tue Nov 27, 7:20 PM,< 1 min,12°,11° above NW,12° above NW|2018-11-28 23:27:00.0,Wed Nov 28, 6:27 PM,3 min,21°,12° above WNW,18° above N|2018-11-29 22:35:00.0,Thu Nov 29, 5:35 PM,4 min,31°,22° above WNW,11° above NE|2018-11-30 23:20:00.0,Fri Nov 30, 6:20 PM,3 min,14°,10° above NW,13° 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