Today's Image

ISS passing Polaris, seen from Canada

Posted by

Deborah Byrd

and

May 18, 2021

A blue, sparse background with a white line crossing the sky, near a medium-bright star. — View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Robert Watcher in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, captured this cool image on May 17, 2021. He wrote: “A perfect night to capture the International Space Station. We had the trajectory down pat for moving through my frame during the middle part of its 6-minute crossing. Although I had no clue that tonight it would pass right through the view of the North Star (Polaris) – the white static star in the middle that all stars rotate around during the night – so that was pretty special.” Very special indeed. Thank you, Robert!

Want to see ISS? Try NASA’s Spot the Station page

More great info on spotting ISS and other Earth-orbiting craft from Heavens-Above

Deborah Byrd

View Articles

About the Author:

Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.