International Space Station Viewing Opportunities - 20-08-12

The International Space Station (ISS) will cross over Ireland's skies at 9:14 p.m. and 10:51 p.m. this evening (Monday).

Viewing opportunities are expected to be good in most parts of the country with skies clearing this afternoon and evening.

The Station will take on the appearance of a bright star racing from west to East across the skies.  It will take approximately 9-10 minutes to cross the sky.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a joint project of five space agencies: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (United States), the Russian Federal Space Agency (Russian Federation), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Japan), the Canadian Space Agency (Canada) and the European Space Agency (Europe). It is serviced primarily by the Soyuz, Progress spacecraft units and possible private missions in near future. Last Space Shuttle mission that serviced the Space Station ended in July 2011 (Atlantis, STS-135). The ISS is expected to remain in operation until at least 2020, and potentially to 2028

Keep track of the Iss’s path in real-time

Viewing timetable for next 7 days. Click to enlarge

Tim Murphy from Boherbue in Co Cork captured this image of the International Space Station (ISS) zooming across the skies over Millstreet, Co Cork, on Thursday, 28 April 2011.

This image of Ireland was taken on the 28th April 2011 at 18.30 GMT from the International Space Station as it passed over the UK.

The east coast of Ireland, as well as the Welsh coastline, is clearly visible. The weather conditions on the ground at the time were hazy which created this obscure but beautiful capture.