Spot The International Space Station In Woodbury Thursday

There will be International Space Station sighting opportunities for Minnesota through mid-December, according to the National Weather Service, but clear skies will make Thursday evening a particularly good time to sight it.

In the Twin Cities, it will visible for about five minutes starting at 5:16 p.m. according to NASA. Viewers can look for it 15 degrees south-southwest until it disappears 12 degrees east-northeast. NASA recommends using a compass to help determine the correct direction. At the peak, it will appear 36 degrees above the horizon.

If you miss the space station Thursday, don't fret. Viewing will be almost as opportune Saturday, Dec. 2, when skies will be clear and the space station will be visible for four minutes starting at 5:09 p.m.

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, check out NASA's tracking tool.

Emily Leayman, Patch Staff contributed to this report.

Photo credit: NASA TV via AP