Hi, we're overhead! Get a text message from NASA when the International Space Station flies over your house

Service launched to celebrate 12th anniversary of crews working aboard



Most visible around dawn and dusk and appears as a fast moving light

It’s the third brightest object in the sky after the sun and the moon, but most people still couldn’t tell you where the International Space Station is.

But now a new service from NASA called Spot the Station will send you a text message when the station is over your house.

Once you know where to look people should be able to see it easily – even without a telescope.

A decade in the stars: Spot the Station was launched to coincide with the 12th year of crew living and working on the International Space Station

The service was launched to celebrate the 12th anniversary of crews living and working aboard the station.

‘It’s really remarkable to see the space station fly overhead and to realize humans built an orbital complex that can be spotted from Earth by almost anyone looking up at just the right moment,’ said William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations.



‘We’re accomplishing science on the space station that is helping to improve life on Earth and paving the way for future exploration of deep space.’

The station is usually at peak visibility at dawn and dusk.

Someone's always home: The station has been occupied continuously longer than any other station in orbit

Luminary: On a clear night anyone can see the International Space Station as a fast-moving point of light, even without a telescope

When skies are clear, it typically appears as fast-moving point of light.

Spot the Station will calculate the station’s proximity to more than 4,600 positions on Earth, updating its information several time per week.

The service will only notify users if the station is easily visible above trees, buildings, and other objects.