Muscat – Residents will have the extraordinary opportunity to observe the International Space Station (ISS) as it makes a rare and swift transit across the evening sky today, Tuesday. Travelling at a staggering speed of 27,600 km/h, the ISS will be visible for just three minutes, appearing at precisely 6:31 PM and crossing from north to northeast at an altitude of 434 kilometres above sea level.

The transit offers a unique chance to witness the ISS in motion, appearing as a bright moving object across the sky. To get the best view, skywatchers are encouraged to find a dark, open area away from city lights and to have their cameras ready in advance, as the event is brief but spectacular.

This event takes place during Expedition 72, which began on 23 September 2024 and will run until Spring 2025. The crew aboard the ISS is conducting crucial research in space, focusing on pharmaceutical manufacturing, advanced life support systems, genetic sequencing in microgravity, and more. Among the crew members are Commander Suni Williams, along with Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin, Butch Wilmore, Ivan Vagner, Don Pettit, Aleksandr Gorbunov, and Nick Hague. Their work aims to benefit humanity both on Earth and in the exploration of space.

This rare opportunity to witness the ISS in flight highlights the ongoing advancements in space exploration and the vital research being conducted by the astronauts aboard.