NASA website that shows where the ISS is; you can also sign up for alerts that tell you when & where to look in the sky when it flies over your location:

https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

 

Yep, well worth taking a look.

Some years ago I used the tool and hung around in my garden one night and watched it fly over. Rather fast I recall, across the sky in no time. 

I have seen the ISS many times over the years. I also saw the Russian Mir space station quite a few times (the first time was late March 1997 when I was on a dark hill top observing Comet Hale Bopp; this was the start of a satellite tracking phase for me that netted over 650 satellites and spent rocket boosters over several years).

Seen the ISS fly over San Francisco one clear summer night.  Like Martin said, it happened fairly quickly!  Now back in the good ole days, who remembers watching the Echo satellite fly over?  I think that was the very first one visible from the ground.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/about/project-echo.html

I definitely remember Echo.  It was very visible.

One night I was outside with binoculars looking at a very clear Mars.  Suddenly I saw the ISS pass in front of the planet.  A "wow" moment that I wasn't expecting.

Hook

I remember going out in the back yard with Dad and the telescope, looking for Sputnik. I seem to remember picking up the beeps on his ham radio too.

I remember I was with my GF touring a little town over here, and saw a light moving fast. I already knew there were no airways over there and no red-green lights to identify it as a plane. I don´t remember which app had in my phone for stargazing, but I pointed it at that light. Surprise: the ISS.

Then we went to the middle of nowhere, just to actually watch the stars, the two of us. Good memories...

Edited February 7, 20224 yr by Luis Hernandez

I've seen the ISS on several occasions.  Its always fun to picture those people up there and what they must be seeing compared to me.  I'm in the dark, outside, and its often cold and clear.  They are inside, probably brightly lit (relative) and they see...hmmm...words to describe what they see...

While engaging in astronomical sightseeing, sightseer saw the ISS. Appropriate I thought. 

Edited February 7, 20224 yr by martin-w

3 hours ago, Luis Hernandez said:

I remember I was with my GF touring a little town over here, and saw a light moving fast. I already knew there were no airways over there and no red-green lights to identify it as a plane. I don´t remember which app had in my phone for stargazing, but I pointed it at that light. Surprise: the ISS.

Then we went to the middle of nowhere, just to actually watch the stars, the two of us. Good memories...

I met someone online on Christmas Eve, and we have been corresponding since then. One of my dreams is to take her somewhere romantic on a clear, dark night, and teach her the stars and constellations. I have been interested in astronomy since I was a kid, so I am hoping to accumulate some serious, er......cat points in the process

Now that you mention it I do remember Echo, also one night I seen the ISS looking like it would cross in front of the moon that I happened to have the telescope focused on, it crossed so fast, I know I seen it but  it happened quickly. You should watch the spy satellites, because they are watching you.

2 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

One of my dreams is to take her somewhere romantic on a clear, dark night, and teach her the stars and constellations. I have been interested in astronomy since I was a kid, so I am hoping to accumulate some serious, er......cat points in the process

Actually my GF (well, now ex) was the one with the idea. But seeing that you love astronomy, go for it! The more remote the place, the better the view (and if everything goes well, the bond too).

3 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

I met someone online on Christmas Eve, and we have been corresponding since then.

 

You little devil you. 😏

Have a cat point for your impressive virility.

😻

Perhaps even a lion point, you naughty man.

 

 

1 hour ago, Luis Hernandez said:

Actually my GF (well, now ex) was the one with the idea.

 

I presume that was before having the idea to dump you. Been there, done that. In my case I think it was my impressive "muscles" that was too much for her. Muscles, not muscle. No euphemisms around here please. We don't do that sort of thing. 

Edited February 7, 20224 yr by martin-w

3 hours ago, Christopher Low said:

I met someone online on Christmas Eve, and we have been corresponding since then. One of my dreams is to take her somewhere romantic on a clear, dark night, and teach her the stars and constellations. I have been interested in astronomy since I was a kid, so I am hoping to accumulate some serious, er......cat points in the process

Hope you are not unpleasantly surprised by her/him/it! 😳  That would result in -🐱 points.