I-Spy the Space Station
400 km above our heads, travelling at 7.7 km per second, is the largest object ever put in orbit – the International Space Station (ISS). Every so often, the huge orbital laboratory can be seen with the naked eye.
If you know when and where to look, spotting the ISS is quite easy. Its large solar panels make it one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It actually looks like a very bright, fairly fast-moving star. The man-made ‘star’ can be seen from the moment it rises above the western horizon until it sets towards the east – a journey of several minutes.
To find the best viewing times from where you live, click here.
Last modified 26 June 2014
