EPES ARISS Project
12/9/2020
Spot the ISS Tracking Tools
Spot the ISS Tonight Dec 9th
Frequently Asked Questions About the ISS (FAQ's)
Q. Why is the space station up there?
A.The space station is Earth's only microgravity laboratory. This football field-sized platform hosts a plethora of science and technology experiments that are continuously being conducted by crew members, or are automated. Research aboard the orbiting laboratory holds benefits for life back on Earth, as well as for future space exploration.
Q. How often can I expect to see the station?
A.The space station is visible because it reflects the light of the Sun – the same reason we can see the Moon. However, unlike the Moon, the space station isn't bright enough to see during the day. It can only be seen when it is dawn or dusk at your location. As such, it can range from one sighting opportunity a month to several a week, since it has to be both dark where you are, and the space station has to happen to be going overhead.
Q. Do I need a telescope to see the station?
A. No, you can see the space station with your bare eyes!
Q. How do I identify the space station in the sky...what am I looking for?
A. The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn't have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles (965 km) per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles (28,000 km) per hour).
Estes Park Elementary School
Email: kristen_berg@estesschools.org
Website: www.estesschools.org
Location: 1505 Brodie Avenue, Estes Park, CO, USA
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