Marcin Frąckiewicz

Have you ever noticed a bright, fast-moving “star” gliding silently across the twilight sky? Chances are, you were watching the International Space Station – a football-field-sized science lab orbiting ~250 miles above Earth. Spotting this orbital outpost is easier than you might think, and it’s completely visible to the naked eye when conditions are right accuweather.com asc-csa.gc.ca. In fact, the ISS is often the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon – a shining white dot that doesn’t blink or change direction like an airplane asc-csa.gc.ca. As NASA’s ISS director Robyn Gatens says, “Even after 23 years of continuous human presence aboard the International Space Station, it’s incredibly exciting to see the station when you look up at just the right moment… [it] really isn’t that far out of reach.” nasa.gov. This guide will show you how to watch the ISS from Earth, including when to look, where to look, and which apps and tools can send you alerts so you never miss a flyover. We’ll also explain what you’re seeing when you spot the ISS, ways to follow live ISS video streams, and the latest ISS news as of August 2025 – from upcoming missions to public