Spot the Space Station over San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – Calling all space enthusiasts! The International Space Station will be flying overhead Wednesday evening and if you time it right, you could see it float across the San Antonio sky.

DETAILS

Exact details on when and where to look for the ISS Wednesday, Thursday and Friday can be found below:

Wednesday

• TIME: 9:28 PM*, Wednesday, July 12, 2023
• APPEARS: 10° above the SW horizon
• DISAPPEARS: 10° above the NE horizon
• MAX HEIGHT: 57°
• VISIBLE FOR 7 MINUTES

Thursday

• TIME: 5:39 AM*, Thursday, July 13, 2023
• APPEARS: 10° above the NW horizon
• DISAPPEARS: 10° above the SE horizon
• MAX HEIGHT: 79°
• VISIBLE FOR 7 MINUTES
  • Note: Morning clouds will likely obstruct this view.

Friday

• TIME: 4:51 AM*, Friday, July 14, 2023
• APPEARS: 10° above the NNW horizon
• DISAPPEARS: 10° above the ESE horizon
• MAX HEIGHT: 48°
• VISIBLE FOR 7 MINUTES
  • Note: Morning clouds will likely obstruct this view.

* This time is when the viewing starts.

NASA notes that flyovers typically over 40° provide the best chances for viewing since they are visible above most buildings and landscapes.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

According to NASA, the International Space Station looks like a bright star or an airplane (without the flashing lights) moving fast across the night sky. For reference, airplanes generally fly around 600 mph, but the space station travels at a speed of over 17,000 mph!

FORECAST

Viewing conditions weather-wise should be decent to catch a glimpse of the passing light overhead on Wednesday. Clouds are more likely to affect morning viewings on Thursday and Friday.

For a full look at the forecast, visit the KSAT weather page here.

If you manage to snap a picture or a video, we’d love to see them! Upload your photos to KSAT Connect here.

HISTORY

According to NASA, the first part of the International Space Station was launched in November 1998. After assembling additional pieces over the course of the following 24 months, the station was ready for the first crew to arrive in November 2000. Scientists from the United States and partners around the world completed the construction of the space station in 2011. The ISS has been home to astronauts in space since the first crew arrived almost 22 years ago and allows crew members to perform unique research on a day-to-day basis.

Want to learn more about the International Space Station itself? You can find more information on their website by clicking here.

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