A New Star in the Sky GIl Knier 01.27.01 The International Space Station is not just the biggest thing humans have put in space, it is now one of the brightest objects shining in the sky. Late last year the Space Shuttle Endeavour carried a big package of solar panels up to the Station. The panels look like big golden wings 240 feet long -- wider than the wings of a Boeing 777 jet airliner!     The new wings made the Space Station larger, and much easier to see from Earth. The Space Station can be seen from Earth because it reflects sunlight. How bright the station looks depends on how it is turned and catches the Sun's rays. When the angle of the Station in space is best for reflecting, it can be as bright as the star Sirius. It might even be as bright as the planet Venus! The only things in the sky brighter than Venus are the Moon and the Sun.    The best times to see the Space Station are an hour or two before sunrise or after sunset. During those times the sky is dark, but the Station can still be in sunlight. In the evening the Station looks brightest just before it enters the Earth's shadow -- it may suddenly "disappear" when just part way across the sky! In early morning the Station can do the opposite, and pop into view in the middle of the sky as it comes out of Earth's shadow. ©2001 NASAkids.com , Science@NASA  Gil Kneir & Becky Bray ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.