The International Space Station will pass over the eastern United States and parts of Canada just after sunset Thursday evening, an event that will be visible to millions of people in those areas.
The station will be visible for several minutes, starting around 9:23 p.m. ET in the northwestern sky, before reaching its maximum altitude around 9:26 p.m. It will finally disappear from view by 9:29 p.m.
Residents of New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C., and many other cities in the region will be able to watch the ISS fly overhead. No telescope is required to view the station, but clear weather is important.
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Unlike smaller moons or dim stars, the ISS is easy to spot in the sky. It appears as a steadily moving white light, brighter than most stars and planets, and does not blink like airplanes.
There are currently seven astronauts on the orbital station. The station orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 420 kilometers (260 miles) at a speed of about 28,000 kilometers per hour (18,000 miles per hour). The station completes one revolution around the Earth in about 90 minutes.
Additional viewing opportunities will be available throughout the weekend, although times and trajectories will vary each night. Those interested in seeing upcoming flybys can visit NASA's Spot the Station website.
Sourse: www.upi.com
