How to catch the International Space Station gliding across our night skies
Look up, Lowcountry.
Story by Mackenzie Lionberger
Photography provided by NASA
The Lowcountry makes a great backdrop for skywatching. On a clear night you can stretch out under the stars and pick out constellations and planets, or maybe even catch something unexpected. That bright “star” gliding overhead? It might just be the International Space Station, cruising silently across the sky.
The ISS is one of the most ambitious international projects in history, involving contributions from 17 countries. The ISS usually hosts seven astronauts at a time who live and work there for months on end.
Experiments on the station cover everything from studying how plants grow in microgravity to testing materials that might help future Mars missions. The station is a constant work in progress. Construction began in 1998, but new labs, modules and solar arrays continue to be added.
Space Station 101
At first glance the ISS looks like a star. But unlike stars, it doesn’t twinkle, and it moves with surprising speed. Traveling at 17,500 mph (Mach 23), the station orbits Earth in a steady free-fall. It’s about the size of a football field and the result of an international effort involving 17 countries that came together for science, research and Earth observation. Construction began in 1998 and wrapped up in 2011, although new modules and projects have kept it evolving over the years.
The ISS often surprises first-time spotters by becoming one of the brightest objects in the night sky, outshone only by the sun and moon. The catch is you only get a few minutes, usually three to six, before it slips beyond the horizon.
“Curious George is not just a monkey. Curious George is a little bit of all of us, because we’re all curious, we all want to know and are especially intrigued by the heavens,” said Ken Brandt, director of the Robeson Planetarium and Science Center in Lumberton, N.C., and astronomy lecturer at USC Beaufort.
The ISS is often the third-brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon. Its steady light is powered by enormous solar panels. At 357 feet end-to-end, the station is about the size of a football field.
What to watch for
Winter is prime time for ISS spotting in the Lowcountry. The skies tend to be crisp and clear, making the bright streak of the station even easier to pick out.
“The best chances are within two hours after sunset and before sunrise,” Brandt explained. “That’s when the station is still catching sunlight while the ground below is dark.”
Some folks mistake it for a plane because of its steady glow, but unlike aircraft, the ISS doesn’t blink red or green. Watch for its solid, bright path moving smoothly from one side of the sky to the other.
The best viewing spots are wide open places with clear horizons. Our beaches are perfect. Pack a chair or blanket, bring along a thermos of coffee if it’s late or early, and settle in for the show. If you’d like a heads-up, NASA’s Spot the Station app will send alerts with the exact times and directions to look. It also tracks other satellites such as the Hubble telescope and China’s Tiangong Station.
“The ISS is such a fleeting moment and kind of a special moment that we always stop everything and have people observe,” said Cale Shipman, a member of the Low Country Stargazers club.
Based in Charleston, the Stargazers share their passion with the community, helping neighbors connect with the night sky. Shipman has spent decades chasing celestial sights, but he still marvels at the ISS.
“Maybe it’s the human element that touches and connects us on the ground with the astronauts and the ISS,” he said. He’s even caught glimpses of resupply missions and the station’s solar panels through his telescope. “It is like history in the making in front of your eyes.”
The ISS has racked up more miles than any car, plane or rocket in history; billions and still climbing. Over its 25 years in orbit, more than 280 astronauts have called it home.
Tips for spotting the ISS
- Timing is key: Look within two hours after sunset or before sunrise when the station reflects sunlight against the dark sky.
- Know what you’re seeing: The ISS shines with a steady white glow. Unlike planes, it won’t blink red or green. Unlike stars, it
doesn’t twinkle. - Watch the speed: The station crosses the sky in just three to six minutes. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.
- Pick the right spot: Head for wide-open horizons. Beaches, piers or clear fields in the Lowcountry give the best vantage points.
- Get a heads-up: Download NASA’s “Spot the Station” app and sign up for alerts with exact viewing times and directions. While you’re at it you can track other satellites gliding across the Lowcountry sky.
