WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): The ISS (International Space Station) is only the size of a football field but will be within our viewing range a few times this month.
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill has the details:
The ISS houses different science and technology experiments. The goal is to look ahead to future space exploration and also the impacts of long-term spaceflight to humans. It moves so fast that it circles the earth every 90 minutes, traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.
You don’t need a telescope nor any special glasses to see it, but the sky needs to be clear when it crosses our horizon.
So, with that in mind, the next time you can see it here in southern West Virginia is Tuesday, February 6th but in a short time span of only 4 minutes. Additionally, it will only be 10 to 14 degrees above the western horizon. So, if your view of the sunset (which occurs in the western horizon) is blocked by trees, you probably won’t see it.
The best chance for all of us to see it includes Thursday, February 15 between 6:15-6:21 a.m. and again Saturday, February 17 between 6:16 am. and 6:22 a.m. The reason why, because it’s going to reach about 41 to 59 degrees above the horizon. That means even if you have trees around your property, you’ll probably be able to see it at least during the middle part of that flight.
For a list of available times to see the ISS at your location, click here.
