ISS Over Alexandria Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Alexandria, Egypt will be visible to the naked eye on Sunday 19 July at 00:11 EEST. It rises in the northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 35 degrees above the horizon, a clear pass well above the horizon. The pass lasts about 50 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Alexandria

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Sunday 19 July
00:11 EEST
NWESE35°Good50 secFaintmag 1.9
Sunday 19 July
23:24 EEST
NNWESE20°Fair2 min 20 secFaintmag 1.4
Monday 20 July
22:37 EEST
NNWE13°Low3 min 40 secFaintmag 0.4
Tuesday 21 July
00:13 EEST
NWSE58°Very good20 secFaintmag 1.9
Tuesday 21 July
23:26 EEST
NWSE68°Excellent2 minFaintmag 1.4
Wednesday 22 July
22:38 EEST
NWESE35°Good3 min 20 secFaintmag 0.2
Thursday 23 July
21:51 EEST
NNWESE21°Fair5 minModeratemag -1.0
Thursday 23 July
23:27 EEST
WNWSSE28°Good1 min 10 secFaintmag 1.5
Friday 24 July
21:04 EEST
NNWE13°Low6 min 30 secFaintmag -0.7
Friday 24 July
22:40 EEST
NWSE57°Very good3 min 10 secFaintmag 0.4
Saturday 25 July
21:52 EEST
NWSE68°Excellent5 minBrightmag -2.3
Sunday 26 July
21:05 EEST
NWESE35°Good6 min 50 secBrightmag -2.2

Showing the next 12 naked-eye visible passes over Alexandria, in local time (Africa/Cairo). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Alexandria?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Alexandria several times a month, whenever it passes overhead during the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise while it is still catching sunlight against a dark sky. No telescope is needed; the station is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is easily seen with the unaided eye. Your next good opportunity from Alexandria is on Sunday 19 July at around 00:17 EEST, when the station climbs to 35 degrees above the horizon.

About the International Space Station

The International Space Station is the largest human-made structure in orbit, about the size of a football pitch and weighing roughly 420 tonnes. It circles the Earth at an altitude of around 420 kilometres and a speed of about 28,000 kilometres per hour, completing one orbit roughly every 90 minutes. That means the crew on board see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.

Because the station is so large and its solar panels are so reflective, it shines by reflected sunlight and can become one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It is visible from the ground without any equipment whenever it passes overhead during twilight, when the observer is in darkness but the station high above is still bathed in sunlight.

How to spot the ISS from Alexandria

Find a spot with a clear view of the sky and as little light pollution as possible. A few minutes before the pass time listed above, look towards the rising direction shown for the pass. You do not need a telescope or binoculars; the station is easily bright enough to see with your eyes alone.

The ISS appears as a steady, bright point of light that glides smoothly across the sky. Unlike an aircraft it has no flashing or coloured lights. A pass lasts only a few minutes, and the station may suddenly fade and disappear partway across the sky as it crosses into the Earth’s shadow, so be ready and keep watching.

Frequently asked questions

When can I see the ISS from Alexandria?
The next pass over Alexandria is on Sunday 19 July at 00:11 EEST, rising in the northwest. The best times to look are during the dark hours just after dusk and just before dawn, when the station is lit by the Sun while the sky around you is dark.
Which direction does the ISS appear from in Alexandria?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Alexandria begin in the western half of the sky and travel towards the east. Each pass on this page lists the exact rise and set directions.
How bright is the ISS over Alexandria?
During a high pass the ISS can reach magnitude -3 to -4, brighter than any star or planet. It looks like a steady white dot moving across the sky over a few minutes. It does not blink or have coloured lights, which is how you tell it apart from an aircraft.
Do I need a telescope to see the ISS from Alexandria?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Alexandria. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

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