The International Space Station is often visible without a telescope, if you know when to look.
Look near dawn or dusk
It shines by reflected sunlight, so it is easiest to see when your sky is dark but the station is still lit.
It doesn't blink
Unlike a plane, it has no flashing lights: a steady point crossing the sky in a few minutes.
Check a pass time
Space agencies publish sighting times for your city, including direction and height.
Filed underScience
Sources and corrections. This article draws on the sources listed here. Spotted a mistake? and we will correct it.
- 1 Sample source: background reference
- 2 Sample source: official or primary document
- 3 Sample source: explainer from another publisher (facts only)




