(April 18, 2016) … Last night we watched the ISS fly across the horizon. The International Space Station looks like a very fast moving plane. The fly by can be a couple minutes to several minutes long The station is moving very fast, much faster than any plane can fly across the sky. It is also brighter than the stars, it can be seen in urban areas with high light pollution, it is that bright.
Some people try to photograph the transition when it crosses in front of the moon. The station is moving so fast it is less than a second to get that shot. There are several tracking apps you can use, the ISS Detector is a good free one for phones. Online you can use the Satellite tracker website and track not just the ISS but other satellites and even comets. Some of these tracking programs map everything in real time. Usually sightings are early evenings as the International Space Sstation will cross the majority of the sky. The ISS tracker is a the best website to keep up with current locations and paths. If you want a list of times for your area use the Spot the Station website. Make sure you are in a dark field or on the beach for best viewing results.
A few ISS facts …
Orbit height: 249 mi
Speed on orbit: 4.76 miles/s
Max speed: 17,150 mph
Launch date: November 20, 1998
Cost: 100 billion EUR
Fish On!!
Rich King