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

Wed, Jan 22, 2020

► Begin
06:36:07 PM EST		 Dur.
3:57		 -2.6 mag
Wed, Jan 22, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:36:07 PM 06:39:20 PM 06:40:04 PM
Direction WSW NNW N
Altitude 10° 47° 39°
Brightness -2.6 mag -2.6 mag

Thu, Jan 23, 2020

► Begin
05:48:00 PM EST		 Dur.
6:13		 -3.2 mag
Thu, Jan 23, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:48:00 PM 05:51:18 PM 05:54:13 PM
Direction WSW NW NE
Altitude 10° 80° 13°
Brightness -3.2 mag -3.2 mag
► Begin
07:26:08 PM EST		 Dur.
1:01		 -0.9 mag
Thu, Jan 23, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 07:26:08 PM 07:27:09 PM 07:27:09 PM
Direction WNW NW NW
Altitude 10° 15° 15°
Brightness -0.9 mag -0.9 mag

Fri, Jan 24, 2020

► Begin
06:37:36 PM EST		 Dur.
3:38		 -1.5 mag
Fri, Jan 24, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:37:36 PM 06:40:20 PM 06:41:14 PM
Direction WNW NNW N
Altitude 10° 23° 21°
Brightness -1.5 mag -1.5 mag

Sat, Jan 25, 2020

► Begin
05:49:11 PM EST		 Dur.
6:03		 -2.0 mag
Sat, Jan 25, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:49:11 PM 05:52:12 PM 05:55:14 PM
Direction W NNW NE
Altitude 10° 32° 10°
Brightness -2.0 mag -2.0 mag
► Begin
07:28:01 PM EST		 Dur.
0:11		 -0.5 mag
Sat, Jan 25, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 07:28:01 PM 07:28:12 PM 07:28:12 PM
Direction NW NW NW
Altitude 10° 11° 11°
Brightness -0.5 mag -0.5 mag

Sun, Jan 26, 2020

► Begin
06:39:27 PM EST		 Dur.
2:45		 -0.9 mag
Sun, Jan 26, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:39:27 PM 06:41:31 PM 06:42:12 PM
Direction NW NNW N
Altitude 10° 15° 14°
Brightness -0.9 mag -0.9 mag

Mon, Jan 27, 2020

► Begin
05:50:53 PM EST		 Dur.
4:49		 -1.2 mag
Mon, Jan 27, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:50:53 PM 05:53:18 PM 05:55:42 PM
Direction WNW NNW NNE
Altitude 10° 18° 10°
Brightness -1.2 mag -1.2 mag

Tue, Jan 28, 2020

► Begin
06:41:12 PM EST		 Dur.
1:54		 -0.7 mag
Tue, Jan 28, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:41:12 PM 06:42:48 PM 06:43:06 PM
Direction NNW N N
Altitude 10° 13° 13°
Brightness -0.7 mag -0.7 mag

Wed, Jan 29, 2020

► Begin
05:52:45 PM EST		 Dur.
3:33		 -0.8 mag
Wed, Jan 29, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:52:45 PM 05:54:31 PM 05:56:18 PM
Direction NW N NNE
Altitude 10° 14° 10°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 mag

Thu, Jan 30, 2020

► Begin
06:42:18 PM EST		 Dur.
1:41		 -0.8 mag
Thu, Jan 30, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:42:18 PM 06:43:59 PM 06:43:59 PM
Direction NNW N N
Altitude 10° 14° 14°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 mag

Fri, Jan 31, 2020

► Begin
05:54:13 PM EST		 Dur.
3:12		 -0.7 mag
Fri, Jan 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:54:13 PM 05:55:49 PM 05:57:25 PM
Direction NNW N NNE
Altitude 10° 13° 10°
Brightness -0.7 mag -0.7 mag
► Begin
07:30:43 PM EST		 Dur.
0:13		 -0.6 mag
Fri, Jan 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 07:30:43 PM 07:30:56 PM 07:30:56 PM
Direction NW NNW NNW
Altitude 10° 11° 11°
Brightness -0.6 mag -0.6 mag

Sat, Feb 01, 2020

► Begin
06:42:52 PM EST		 Dur.
2:08		 -1.2 mag
Sat, Feb 01, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:42:52 PM 06:45:00 PM 06:45:00 PM
Direction NNW N N
Altitude 10° 18° 18°
Brightness -1.2 mag -1.2 mag