Just what are we seeing when we dial up NASA and ask them when to look into our sky to see their “ISS”? As someone who loves to know magician tricks, just how do they do it? What exactly are we looking at? A plane? A U2? Like many magician trick explanations, are we looking at something that seems like too much work to be plausible, yet that IS the explanation? How to deceive point #2

Simon asks,

As you all may (or may not) know, NASA will alert you as to when the “ISS” will pass above your location – wherever you live. All you have to do is subscribe to the SPOT THE STATION ‘newsletter’ (submitting your location) – and they will periodically alert you to when the “ISS” will fly over your house. I have done so a while ago, and have watched this ‘bright, moving star’ passing over my house (in all sorts of directions – and seemingly ‘at airliner altitude’) on about seven or eight occasions so far.

via Fakery in Orbit: THE I$$ • Cluesforum.info.