ISS - Passes Overhead

  • Photo of the International Space Station

    Did you know that you can see the ISS from the ground? Find out when the International Space Station will travel over Burleson next! Click here or copy the following URL and paste it into your browser:  https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/view.cfm?country=United_States&region=Texas&city=Burleson#.WKTkMvkrKUm

    The space station is easiest to see at night, including dusk and dawn. While stars twinkle due to how their glow interacts with the atmosphere, and planes’ lights blink, the space station stays a consistent white or silver glow moving at a relatively quick pace. If you look using a powerful set of binoculars or a telescope, you may be able to identify the distinctive shape of the station.

    To see what Earth looks like from the ISS, click here!

    Long Exposure photo of a visible ISS pass. Credit: Mark Humpage Source: www.meteorwatch.org

    Long Exposure photo of a visible ISS pass. Credit: Mark Humpage
    Source: www.meteorwatch.org

    About the International Space Station

    The International Space Station orbits at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour, or about 4.7 miles per second. The station is located in a prograde orbit, tilted 51.6 degrees to the equator, 250 miles above the earth’s surface.
    Click Here for more Orbit Information

    The station’s crew typically operates off of Zulu time, more commonly known as Greenwhich Mean Time. Depending on Daylight Savings Time, this may be either 5 or 6 hours ahead of Central Time.

    The crews typically sleeps from 9:30 PM to 6:00 AM GMT, which translates to:
    3:30 PM to 12:00 AM Central Standard Time (Typically Nov to March)
    4:30 PM to 1:00 AM Central Daylight Time (Typically March to Nov)

    For more information about life on the space station, CLICK HERE or copy this link into your browser: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/dayinthelife