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

Sat, Oct 31, 2020

► Begin
05:36:43 AM EDT		 Dur.
1:13		 -0.8 mag
Sat, Oct 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 05:36:43 AM 05:36:43 AM 05:37:56 AM
Direction N N NNE
Altitude 14° 14° 10°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 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.
► Begin
07:11:55 AM EDT		 Dur.
1:52		 -0.8 mag
Sat, Oct 31, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EDT) 07:11:55 AM 07:13:45 AM 07:13:47 AM
Direction NNW N N
Altitude 10° 14° 14°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 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.

Sun, Nov 01, 2020

► Begin
05:24:06 AM EST		 Dur.
3:13		 -0.7 mag
Sun, Nov 01, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:24:06 AM 05:25:43 AM 05:27:19 AM
Direction NNW N NNE
Altitude 10° 13° 10°
Brightness -0.7 mag -0.7 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.

Mon, Nov 02, 2020

► Begin
04:38:04 AM EST		 Dur.
1:10		 -0.7 mag
Mon, Nov 02, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 04:38:04 AM 04:38:04 AM 04:39:14 AM
Direction N N NNE
Altitude 12° 12° 10°
Brightness -0.7 mag -0.7 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
06:12:57 AM EST		 Dur.
3:06		 -1.2 mag
Mon, Nov 02, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:12:57 AM 06:15:26 AM 06:16:03 AM
Direction NNW NNE NE
Altitude 10° 20° 19°
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.

Tue, Nov 03, 2020

► Begin
05:25:19 AM EST		 Dur.
4:17		 -1.0 mag
Tue, Nov 03, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:25:19 AM 05:27:27 AM 05:29:36 AM
Direction NNW NNE NE
Altitude 10° 16° 10°
Brightness -1.0 mag -1.0 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.

Wed, Nov 04, 2020

► Begin
04:39:25 AM EST		 Dur.
1:51		 -0.8 mag
Wed, Nov 04, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 04:39:25 AM 04:39:26 AM 04:41:16 AM
Direction N N NE
Altitude 14° 14° 10°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 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.
► Begin
06:13:53 AM EST		 Dur.
4:28		 -2.2 mag
Wed, Nov 04, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:13:53 AM 06:16:58 AM 06:18:21 AM
Direction NW NNE ENE
Altitude 10° 35° 24°
Brightness -2.2 mag -2.2 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, Nov 05, 2020

► Begin
05:26:36 AM EST		 Dur.
5:17		 -1.6 mag
Thu, Nov 05, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:26:36 AM 05:29:05 AM 05:31:53 AM
Direction NNW NNE E
Altitude 12° 25° 10°
Brightness -1.6 mag -1.6 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.

Fri, Nov 06, 2020

► Begin
04:40:52 AM EST		 Dur.
2:45		 -1.2 mag
Fri, Nov 06, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 04:40:52 AM 04:41:08 AM 04:43:37 AM
Direction NNE NNE ENE
Altitude 19° 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
06:14:59 AM EST		 Dur.
5:40		 -3.2 mag
Fri, Nov 06, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:14:59 AM 06:18:17 AM 06:20:39 AM
Direction NW SSW SE
Altitude 10° 88° 18°
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, Nov 07, 2020

► Begin
03:55:11 AM EST		 Dur.
0:06		 -0.5 mag
Sat, Nov 07, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 03:55:11 AM 03:55:11 AM 03:55:17 AM
Direction NE NE NE
Altitude 10° 10° 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.
► Begin
05:28:08 AM EST		 Dur.
5:37		 -2.8 mag
Sat, Nov 07, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:28:08 AM 05:30:30 AM 05:33:45 AM
Direction NW NNE ESE
Altitude 17° 55° 10°
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.

Sun, Nov 08, 2020

► Begin
04:42:31 AM EST		 Dur.
3:13		 -2.1 mag
Sun, Nov 08, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 04:42:31 AM 04:42:40 AM 04:45:44 AM
Direction NNE NNE E
Altitude 35° 35° 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
06:16:30 AM EST		 Dur.
5:47		 -1.8 mag
Sun, Nov 08, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 06:16:30 AM 06:19:23 AM 06:22:17 AM
Direction WNW SW SSE
Altitude 10° 28° 10°
Brightness -1.8 mag -1.8 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.

Mon, Nov 09, 2020

► Begin
03:56:58 AM EST		 Dur.
0:36		 -0.8 mag
Mon, Nov 09, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 03:56:58 AM 03:56:58 AM 03:57:34 AM
Direction ENE ENE E
Altitude 14° 14° 10°
Brightness -0.8 mag -0.8 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.
► Begin
05:29:56 AM EST		 Dur.
5:00		 -2.7 mag
Mon, Nov 09, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 05:29:56 AM 05:31:43 AM 05:34:56 AM
Direction WNW SW SE
Altitude 23° 50° 10°
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.

Tue, Nov 10, 2020

► Begin
04:44:28 AM EST		 Dur.
2:50		 -3.0 mag
Tue, Nov 10, 2020 Begin Max. End
Time (EST) 04:44:28 AM 04:44:28 AM 04:47:18 AM
Direction SE SE SE
Altitude 62° 62° 10°
Brightness -3.0 mag -3.0 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.