ISS Visible From Shimla -- Here's How to Track the Space Station

Star gazing is not limited to celestial bodies today man-made structures such as the International Space Station (ISS) can also be spotted in the sky as it orbits the Earth in a calculated and predictable pattern. And NASA provided a way to help spectators spot the ISS.

Those living in Shimla, India are in for a treat because the metallic object will be grazing their sky until Dec. 6. The ISS, moving at top speed, can be spotted in the Indian sky by the naked eye or by using telescopes and binoculars. The ISS can be seen as a bright light that may even be mistaken as a shooting star.

The ISS orbits at about 27.6 kilometers per hour at a 400-kilometer distance from Earth, according to Financial Express. But Shimla is not the only place where the ISS can be spotted. In fact, the space station frequently appears in many locations worldwide and NASA made it easier to watch the space station from any location.

NASA launched the 'Spot the Station' page entirely dedicated to ISS watching. "Watch the International Space Station pass overhead from several thousand worldwide locations," a NASA official said in the official Spot the Station page. To use the page, simply put the pin on the map to identify the desired location. The pin then will give users the viewing opportunities available for that area.

The ISS produces a different kind of streak in the sky. Residents of Shimla were able to capture photographs of the ISS when it appeared last Nov. 27 from 6:45 p.m., according to India Times. The ISS resurfaced at 7:20 p.m. on the same date, giving stargazers another opportunity to capture the image.

Being the third brightest object seen from the sky, it is impossible to miss the speeding space station. Since the ISS is continuously in orbit, it will be visible for a few minutes before it disappears into the sky again. Experts suggest to try and watch the ISS during sunrise and sunset.