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International Space Station (ISS) Spotting

Sky watchers on Earth could have a chance at a real show: a bright star materializing like a supernova in the predawn sky. That's what the ISS looks like (from the ground) when it's hit by rays from the morning Sun. It happens often enough, but most people have never seen it because they don't know when to look. The first week of Sept. is a good time to try. That's when the ISS will fly over several major US cities before dawn, and if you're outside at the right moment you can spot a "space station supernova." You'll have to wake up early, around 5 o'clock in the morning...

More: Science@NASA - Space Station Supernova (including a listing of local times in September when the ISS will materialize over some US cities)

Entry posted by HotTopics on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 at 00:00. Filed under Sky Watching. The author does not allow comments to this entry.