How to Spot the International Space Station

Look for a moving point of light

The International Space Station can look like a bright point moving steadily across the sky. You are seeing reflected sunlight, not the station's lights. You do not need a telescope for a favorable pass.

Visible passes often happen around dawn or dusk, when your sky is relatively dark but the station is still sunlit. Not every pass above your location will be visible.

Reference: NASA: Spot the Station; NASA: Space Station Facts and Figures

Check a prediction for your location

Use NASA's Spot the Station information to find a pass for your city or observing location. Check the date, time zone, direction of appearance, and maximum elevation before going outside.

Elevation is the angle above the horizon: 0 degrees is on the horizon and 90 degrees is overhead. A high pass is usually easier to follow than one hidden behind roofs and trees.

Reference: NASA: Spot the Station

Make your first attempt simple

Choose a safe spot with a clear view along the predicted path. Start with your eyes so you can scan a wide area without trying to track through binoculars.

1. Arrive a few minutes early and identify the predicted starting direction.
2. Look for a moving light at the expected time, then follow its path.
3. Compare both timing and direction before deciding you saw the station. Other satellites can look similar.

Why it might disappear

The station may fade before reaching the horizon because it enters Earth's shadow. Cloud can also hide it. Neither means it has stopped moving.

Recheck the prediction before observing, because orbital changes can affect pass times. Never point a laser at a passing object, and avoid looking near the Sun with binoculars or a telescope.