Is the International Space Station visible tonight? How to spot ISS

• It is possible to see the station from Earth with the naked eye, appearing as a bright, fast-moving light.
• The best times to spot the ISS are a few hours before sunrise or after sunset.
• NASA's "Spot the Station" mobile app can notify you when the ISS will be visible from your location.

The International Space Station has been orbiting Earth for two decades, becoming an iconic cosmic landmark where astronauts have helped establish humanity's constant presence among the stars.

For more than 25 years, the orbital outpost has been occupied without interruption by a continuously rotating crew of intrepid explorers. While aboard the ISS, astronauts from all over the world not only help keep the station operational, but prepare for humans to venture further into space.

Did you know it's possible to get a distant glimpse of them at work from hundreds of miles away?

Because the station orbits Earth once every 90 minutes, the crew on board sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every day. That also means the station, traveling at dizzying speeds of about 17,500 mph, is routinely visible to spectators on the ground.

Here's everything to know about the International Space Station, and how to spot it from Earth.

What is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit for more than 25 years, typically about 260 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. Throughout its lifespan, the station has served as a test bed for scientific research in microgravity and has in years past opened itself up to private commercial missions.

The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

More than 290 spacefarers from 26 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 170 from the United States alone, according to NASA.

When to see the space station from Earth

The International Space Station, which completes 16 orbits of Earth per day, is regularly visible to spectators around the globe.

The best time to spot the orbital outpost is within a few hours before or after both sunrise and sunset, according to NASA. That's because the station reflects sunlight just like the moon, but isn't bright enough to see during the day.

If you don’t live in the extreme north or south of the world, you may be able to spot the ISS at least once a month – and perhaps even more frequently, according to the Planetary Society.

How can you track the ISS? There's an app for that

NASA's "Spot the Station" mobile app allows users to receive notifications for when the International Space Station passes over their respective locations. The app also provides real-time tracking data.

The mobile app is available to download for free in Apple's App Store for iPhone users and, for Android users, on Google Play.

The European Space Agency has also developed an online tracker you can bookmark on your desktop that shows where the station is at any given time. The tool even shows the station's path in the previous 90 minutes, as well as its path 90 minutes ahead.

How can you spot the space station in orbit? Do you need binoculars?

Make sure you have an unimpeded view of the sky to catch the ISS passing overhead. The station's orbit makes it appear as if it is traveling from west to east.

The "Spot the Station" app will tell you exactly where in the sky the ISS will appear and how high in the sky it will be.

No special equipment is needed to spot the station, which can easily be seen with the naked eye. Binoculars and telescopes, though, will provide an enhanced view that could even unveil details like the station's solar arrays and individual modules, according to the Planetary Society.

How bright is the ISS? What does it look like from Earth?

The International Space Station can under certain conditions be among the brightest objects in the sky – outshined only by the sun and moon. That means it's even brighter than Venus, the brightest planet in the sky.

This isn't because the ISS gives off much of its own light, but because – with its array of solar panels – it is exceptional at reflecting sunlight off it, according to the Planetary Society.

If you spot it, the space station should appear as a solid bright light whizzing across the night sky.

What astronauts are on the International Space Station?

A skeleton crew of just three astronauts are living and working aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russians Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the end of November on a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, are also the newest additions at the orbital laboratory.

Having only three crew members on the ISS means the station is temporarily understaffed. But the reason is because on Jan. 14, four astronauts on a joint NASA and SpaceX mission known as Crew-11 were medically evacuated after one of them experienced an undisclosed health issue that necessitated an accelerated return to Earth.

The mission's Crew-12 successors are due to reach the space station in February.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]