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   The International Space Station will be visible from Canton, NY during the first two weeks of December 2003, just after sunset. The table below contains the times ISS will be visible, and links to star charts showing the approximate path ISS will follow in the sky. The path of ISS shown on the star charts contain minute and second (mm:ss) notations marking the station's position. QuickTime VR (QT VR) movies are also available, providing a full sky view; QuickTime 5 or later is required (Quicktime is installed on all new campus computers), and a broadband connection is recommended.

   The orbit of ISS is variable due to changes in its altitude above the Earth, so the times and paths indicated on the star charts may not be precise. Check this page for updated times.

  See the following pages for more information about the International Space Station:

• NASA's Human Spaceflight page.
• Where is the Space Station now?
• Sighting opportunities (check for major cities)
• Heavens–Above: Lots of tables, charts, and information about satellites, planets, etc.

Date	Times Visible*	Star Charts **	Comments
5 December, 2003	5:43 – 5:46 pm	Chart – 109 kb QT VR – 573 kb	Rises in the north-west; passes due north just before 5:45 (below Polaris, the North Star, located at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor); disappears in the north-east. Maximum altitude 27°. Observing notes: clear and cold; ISS was right on schedule!
6 December, 2003	6:16 – 6:18 pm	Chart – 111 kb QT VR – 571 kb	Rises in the north-west; heads above Polaris, but disappears before passing over. Maximum altitude 37°. Cloudy!
7 December, 2003	5:13 – 5:18 pm	Chart – 126 kb QT VR – 570 kb	Rises in the north-west; passes due north about 5:15 (below Polaris); passes by the Moon (in front of it?) just before 5:18; sets in the north-east. Maximum altitude 31°. Cloudy!
8 December, 2003	5:46 – 5:50 pm	Chart – 131 kb QT VR – 587 kb	Rises in the north-west; passes nearly overhead about 5:49 (just below the Zenith, the point directly above you in the sky); sets in the south-east. Maximum altitude 73°. Observing notes: Another clear night, with a bright moon. ISS was brighter than on Friday; it followed a commercial jet liner in the sky.
9 December, 2003	4:44 – 4:49 pm	Chart – 131 kb	First of two appearances this evening! Rises in north-west; passes just below Polaris about 4:45; sets in the east. Maximum altitude 39°. Observing notes: The sky was still bright blue, but ISS was easy to see. Also saw Mercury.
9 December, 2003	6:19 – 6:23 pm	Chart – 61 kb	Second appearance of the evening! Rises in the west; travels in the southern sky, passing beneath Mars around 6:22; disappears when it's due south. Maximum altitude 34°. Observing notes: Twice in one night! Thin clouds moving in. Observed from the comfort of my second floor room.
10 December, 2003	5:17 – 5:23 pm	Chart – 144 kb QT VR – 590 kb	Rises in north-west; passes near zenith (directly overhead) around 5:19; sets in the south-east. Maximum altitude 80°.
11 December, 2003	5:50 – 5:55 pm	Chart – 109 kb	Rises in the west; travels through the southern sky, disappearing due south. Maximum altitude 23°.
12 December, 2003	4:47 – 4:53 pm	Chart – 67 kb	Rises in north-west; travels through southern sky, passing beneath Mars around 4:50. Maximum altitude 54°.
13 December, 2003	5:20 – 5:24 pm	Chart – 104 kb	Appears in the western sky, passing above Venus around 5:21. Disappears in southern sky. Doesn't get very high in the sky; maximum altitude 16°.
15 December, 2003	4:52 – 4:54 pm	Chart – 96 kb	Appears low in the south-west, passing right below Venus. Will be much fainter than previous nights. Maximum altitude 11°.

^*Viewing times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST), and were calculated at Heavens–Above.

^**All star charts are .jpg images; QT VR movies require QuickTime 5 or later. All were created with Starry Night Professional 4.5.