If you are interested in space, you may have tried to get away from the city lights and look up at the night sky. One of the bright objects in orbit is the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS is in a fast orbit of the Earth, traveling at over 17,000 mile per hour. This means that the ISS completes an orbit about every 90 minutes. If you are in a spot that is relatively free of light pollution, seeing the ISS is easy.
To plan ahead for such an excursion you can use the “Spot the Station” site from NASA. You can enter where you will be into the site and it will then give you a list of the dates and times the ISS will be visible from that location. The site also gives you directions as to where to look for the ISS in the evening sky.
You can even sign up for alerts for when the ISS will be passing within view of your location. Taking advantage of this would be a great way to involve kids in STEM activities. For me the current closest location with a list of sighting opportunities is for Georgetown, TX, just a few miles north of where I live. The next viewing opportunities will be at:
| Date | Visible | Max Height | Appears | Disappears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue May 2, 5:42 AM | 4 min | 26° | 11° above S | 21° above E |
| Wed May 3, 4:52 AM | 2 min | 12° | 11° above SE | 10° above ESE |
| Thu May 4, 5:35 AM | 3 min | 88° | 30° above SW | 28° above NE |
John's Notes 