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Spot the Space Station!

Spot the Space Station!

The International Space Station has been a fixture in the sky since its first component was launched in 1998, and it is a bright sight to behold if you can catch it.

Depending on your location, you may be able to witness the ISS blazing a path across the sky several times a week, or it may only appear once or twice a month if that.

To take the guesswork out of your search for the space station, NASA has a handy Spot the Station service available at spotthestation.nasa.gov/. Visitors to the site can get a list of upcoming sightings for a location they specify.

Visitors can also sign up to receive email or text alerts that will let them know when an opportunity to view the station is near for their specified location.

The alerts will include the time of the sighting, how long the ISS will be visible, the height at which it can be seen in degrees, where it will appear and where it will disappear.

Bright enough to be seen even with city light pollution, the ISS looks like a fast-moving plane or star. The station is the size of a football field and is the largest manmade object in space. It has more livable area than an average six-bedroom house.

Image Information:

On May 29, 2011, a crew member on the Space Shuttle Endeavour captured this photo of the International Space Station following undocking procedures.

Photo Courtesy of NASA

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