Skywatchers on the West Coast are in for an additional holiday treat this weekend. The International Space Station (ISS) will be visible in the night sky for a few minutes each tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.
Of course, seeing the ISS from Earth all depends on clear skies.
So how can you catch a view of the ISS? On Friday, between 6:30 p.m. and 6:41 p.m., look above the northwest horizon at about 10 degrees. The station will appear there, moving to the southwest.
Saturday features the longest time of appearance, from 5:47 p.m. to 5:52 p.m. Look above the northwest horizon about 10 degrees and you'll see the station moving towards the southeast.
You'll only have a minute to catch the station in the night sky on Sunday, from exactly 6:35 p.m. to 6:36 p.m. It will appear above the southwest horizon at about 13 degrees, moving off to the southwest.
Of course, you'll need to know what you're looking for. The ISS is difficult to spot among the other stars in the sky, but look for a ball that is steadily moving.
"The space station looks like a fast-moving plane in the sky, but it is dozens of times higher than any airplane and traveling thousands of miles an hour faster," says NASA. "It is bright enough that it can even be seen from the middle of a city!"
The ISS is visible in the night sky for most up to several times a week, although that depends on location. To track the best nights for viewing, visit NASA's Spot The Station website. You can also set up alerts via email or text message for when the ISS is visible from your location.
Meanwhile, astronauts aboard the ISS are celebrating the holidays in zero gravity, complete with a decorated Christmas tree floating up there with them. The astronauts also have Christmas stockings. The astronauts recently sent their holiday greetings from space.
"This is definitely going to be a Christmas that we'll remember, getting a chance to see the beautiful Earth, and I hope that for you also it will be a memorable Christmas this year," said NASA astronaut Terry Virts.
Virts also recently shared some images of the astronauts' holiday celebrations on the ISS on Twitter.
opening presents - I got a harmonica frome Elena Serova. Now I need to learn how to play! pic.twitter.com/rT0E9ZqynO
— Terry W. Virts (@AstroTerry) December 25, 2014
No chimney up here- so I left powdered milk and freeze dried cookies in the airlock. Fingers crossed... pic.twitter.com/zr5MzGbaPe — Terry W. Virts (@AstroTerry) December 24, 2014
Getting ready for Christmas with @astrosamantha and #AstroButch pic.twitter.com/mb9GgIuPqH — Terry W. Virts (@AstroTerry) December 24, 2014
[Photo Credit: NASA]
