Space News : Now, get an SMS and spot NASA’s ISS

Now, get an SMS and spot NASA’s ISS

 You can now spot the International Space Station (ISS) commanded by Indian—American astronaut Sunita Williams without a telescope as it passes your house, thanks to NASA’s new SMS service.

“Spot the Station” will send you a text message as the ISS passes over your house, to help you see the object.

Third brightest

The International Space Station is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon, however, most people still cannot tell where the orbiting laboratory is.NASA will send an email or text message to those who sign up for the service a few hours before they will be able to see the space station, the US space agency said in a statement. Once you know where to look, people should be able to see it easily — even without a telescope.

The service was launched to celebrate the 12th anniversary of crews living and working aboard the station presently commanded by Williams. “It’s really remarkable to see the space station fly overhead and to realise humans built an orbital complex that can be spotted from Earth by almost anyone looking up at just the right moment,” said William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations.

For further information visit: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/now-get-an-sms-and-spot-nasas-iss/article4065973.ece