Clear View Of International Space Station Tonight For Mass.

BOSTON, MA — Wednesday night, Nov. 29, offers Bay Staters a rare celestial treat: the International Space Station will be visible to the naked eye as it makes its orbit around the Earth, thanks to ideal viewing conditions.

In Massachusetts, experts say the space station should be visible for about four minutes around 5:35 p.m, according to NASA. Viewers can look for it 28 degrees southwest until it disappears 38 degrees east-northeast. NASA recommends using a compass to help determine the correct direction. At the peak, it will appear 85 degrees above the horizon - that's close to directly overhead.

The National Weather Service in Massachusetts predicts mostly clear skies tonight, so there should be little cloud cover to block sky-watchers.

Wednesday is an ideal viewing time because the space station will be high in the sky and illuminated by the setting sun, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz told NBC Washington. The sunset in Boston will be at 4:13 p.m., allowing for the space station to be more visible against a darkening sky. Other times, buildings can block the view of the space station, which often hangs low over the horizon.

If you miss Wednesday's gig, don't fret. Viewing will be almost as opportune Friday, Dec. 1, when it's visible for four minutes at 5:26 p.m and Sunday, Dec. 3 for five minutes at 5:18 p.m. Forecasters predict mostly clear skies both evenings, as well. But the peak height will be substantially lower.

As the largest human-made object in low Earth orbit, the space station is often compared to the size of a football field and can be seen without a telescope. NASA regularly calculates opportunities to view the International Space Station for over 6,700 locations worldwide. Sightings usually occur within a few hours of sunset or sunrise.

To see the exact viewing times for your town, see NASA's tracking tool. Plus, follow NASA's six astronauts on Twitter @NASA_Astronauts for stunning images from space.

— Story by Patch Editor Deb Belt. Includes reporting by Patch Editor Emily Leayman

Image via NASA