NASA's new app makes it easy for stargazers to spot the International Space Station

Available on both iPhone and Android devices, this app offers augmented reality features and an intuitive interface to enhance the experience of observing the orbiting laboratory.

The ISS is most visible during early morning or evening hours when the sun is below the horizon, but its light still reaches and reflects off the station. NASA's app provides users with detailed information about when the ISS will pass over their location at the optimal time for maximum visibility. This includes data on how long it will be visible, its highest point in the sky, and its direction of travel.

The app's main page features a countdown timer until the next possible sighting, a globe and map displaying the current position of the ISS, and a full-page tracker view to monitor the station's location in real-time. Additionally, users can enable notifications to receive alerts whenever the ISS is passing overhead.

One of the standout features of the app is its augmented reality view, which assists users in locating the ISS in the night sky. While other apps like SkyView have offered similar AR capabilities for exploring celestial objects, NASA's Spot the Station app provides this service entirely free of charge and without any advertisements.

Furthermore, the app offers valuable resources, including the latest news posts related to crew activities on the Space Station, additional reading materials about the ISS, its crew members, and the history of international collaboration in space exploration. It also provides a fact sheet with general information about the ISS.