The International Space Station (ISS) and all the artificial satellites visible to the naked eye show obvious motion. In fact, they cross the sky in minutes. Their movement is like a high-altitude airplane’s, although without the blinking lights, navigation lights or engine noise.
You’ll spot the space station and satellites especially in the early evening or at the end of the night. The sky in your area is then fairly dark and the satellites, a few hundred kilometres high, are still lit by the Sun.
Where and when to look to see the Space Station and satellites
The website Heavens-Above predicts the time that the major satellites, including the ISS, are visible from your specific location and the direction you can see them.
The visibility of artificial satellites on the Heavens-Above site from Montréal, Québec, Trois-Rivières et Ottawa/Gatineau.
Information about upcoming sighting opportunities of the International Space Station can also be found on NASA’s website.