International Space Station

ISS observation

When can I spot the Space Station?

Observing of the International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) can easily be spotted with the naked eye. Because of its size (110m x 100m x 30m), it reflects a large amount of sunlight.

The best time to observe the ISS is when it is nighttime at your location, and the Space Station is sunlit. Often, such a viewing situation occurs in the morning before sunrise, or in the evening after sunset.

Visible ISS passes over New York City

You find a list of the next sighting opportunities for New York City below. The green bars indicate the brightness of the ISS on its pass.

The list contains all visible passes of the ISS during the next ten days. Please click on a pass to get more details.

Past ISS passes

Fri, May 29, 2020

► Begin
09:01:31 PM EDT		 Dur.
4:53		 -1.2 mag
Fri, May 29, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:01:31 PM 09:03:57 PM 09:06:24 PM
Direction NNW NNE ENE
Altitude 10° 19° 10°
Brightness -1.2 mag -1.2 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.
► Begin
10:37:49 PM EDT		 Dur.
3:17		 -3.2 mag
Fri, May 29, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 10:37:49 PM 10:41:06 PM 10:41:06 PM
Direction NW NNE NNE
Altitude 10° 86° 86°
Brightness -3.2 mag -3.2 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Sat, May 30, 2020

► Begin
09:50:03 PM EDT		 Dur.
4:56		 -2.7 mag
Sat, May 30, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:50:03 PM 09:53:18 PM 09:54:59 PM
Direction NW NNE E
Altitude 10° 51° 24°
Brightness -2.7 mag -2.7 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.
► Begin
11:27:29 PM EDT		 Dur.
0:26		 -0.6 mag
Sat, May 30, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 11:27:29 PM 11:27:55 PM 11:27:55 PM
Direction W W W
Altitude 10° 12° 12°
Brightness -0.6 mag -0.6 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Sun, May 31, 2020

► Begin
09:02:21 PM EDT		 Dur.
6:05		 -2.1 mag
Sun, May 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:02:21 PM 09:05:24 PM 09:08:26 PM
Direction NW NNE E
Altitude 10° 33° 10°
Brightness -2.1 mag -2.1 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.
► Begin
10:39:11 PM EDT		 Dur.
2:39		 -1.9 mag
Sun, May 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 10:39:11 PM 10:41:50 PM 10:41:50 PM
Direction WNW SW SW
Altitude 10° 30° 30°
Brightness -1.9 mag -1.9 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Mon, Jun 01, 2020

► Begin
09:51:10 PM EDT		 Dur.
4:38		 -2.8 mag
Mon, Jun 01, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:51:10 PM 09:54:25 PM 09:55:48 PM
Direction WNW SW SSE
Altitude 10° 55° 29°
Brightness -2.8 mag -2.8 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Tue, Jun 02, 2020

► Begin
09:03:18 PM EDT		 Dur.
6:31		 -3.2 mag
Tue, Jun 02, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:03:18 PM 09:06:37 PM 09:09:49 PM
Direction NW NE SE
Altitude 10° 84° 11°
Brightness -3.2 mag -3.2 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.
► Begin
10:42:09 PM EDT		 Dur.
0:36		 -0.5 mag
Tue, Jun 02, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 10:42:09 PM 10:42:45 PM 10:42:45 PM
Direction WSW SW SW
Altitude 10° 11° 11°
Brightness -0.5 mag -0.5 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Wed, Jun 03, 2020

► Begin
09:52:55 PM EDT		 Dur.
3:55		 -1.2 mag
Wed, Jun 03, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:52:55 PM 09:55:18 PM 09:56:50 PM
Direction W SW SSW
Altitude 10° 18° 14°
Brightness -1.2 mag -1.2 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Thu, Jun 04, 2020

► Begin
09:04:38 PM EDT		 Dur.
5:58		 -2.0 mag
Thu, Jun 04, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:04:38 PM 09:07:37 PM 09:10:36 PM
Direction WNW SW SSE
Altitude 10° 31° 10°
Brightness -2.0 mag -2.0 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.

Sat, Jun 06, 2020

► Begin
09:07:28 PM EDT		 Dur.
1:51		 -0.5 mag
Sat, Jun 06, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 09:07:28 PM 09:08:23 PM 09:09:19 PM
Direction WSW SW SW
Altitude 10° 11° 10°
Brightness -0.5 mag -0.5 mag
The grey circle indicates the area where the Space Station is at least 10° above the horizon.
The red line shows where the ISS is sunlit and visible.
On the blue line the ISS is in the Earth's shadow and invisible or it is less than 10° above the horizon or the sky is not dark enough to see the ISS.