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Can the International Space Station Lights be Seen from the Earth’s Surface?

-- Sabra | April 25, 2025

Artist rendering of the orbiting RadioAstron satellite

Question:

would the space station have blue and red lights on it and can it appear bright and then dim?

-- Sabra

Answer:

No, the International Space Station (ISS) does not have red or blue lights that are visible from Earth. The ISS is primarily visible from Earth due to sunlight reflecting off its large solar panels and other light-colored surfaces. The ISS appears as a bright, steady light, like a fast-moving star or a plane without flashing lights.

-- Jeff Mangum

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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
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