How To See When the International Space Station is Over Montana

• If you have ever wondered what the blinking lights in the sky are, NASA has an app for that
• The International Space Station app allows users to track the location of the station and find when it will be over their state or town
• Find out when the station will be crossing Big Sky Country during the summer for fun with family

How To See When the International Space Station is Over Montana

I am sure there are many great spots to gaze at the night sky across the world, but Montana has to rank near the top.  The open spaces and lack of light pollution offer glimpses not afforded too many to check out the night sky.

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Ever wondered what some of those blinking lights you see are under the curtain of the night in Big Sky Country?  Ever wanted to be able to track those satellites or even the International Space Station?  NASA is making it possible for us, right now.

Spot the Station App Can Help You Find the ISS in Montana

The International Space Station (ISS) orbits the Earth 16 times per day and operates at an inclination of 51.6 degrees.  Montana sits at about 63 degrees which means the ISS will never be directly over us.

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The Spot the Station App from NASA allows users to track the ISS and see exactly when it will be passing through the skies of Montana, or anywhere.  The app is the "official NASA app that helps users track and receive notifications for International Space Station viewings as it passes over their respective location. It also provides real-time tracking, flyover schedules, and alerts."

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How to Spot the Space Station and Where to Get Your Official NASA App

The Spot the Station App is available through the NASA website here.  The app can be configured to provide a list of all possible space station viewing opportunities under the Big Sky.

NASA also offers these tips to view the ISS:

The space station appears similar to an airplane or a very bright star moving across the night sky, except it does not have flashing lights or change direction. It also moves faster than a typical airplane (airplanes fly at about 600 mph (965 kph); the space station flies at 17,500 mph (28,000 kph)).