How to Spot Bill Nye's LightSail Spacecraft from Earth
Catch sight of light glinting off a newly launched solar sail as it's propelled through the night sky.
Look up during the next few nights and you might see a spacecraft gliding across the starry skies.
After days of glitches and tension, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" and his team at the Planetary Society confirmed on Sunday that their plucky LightSail satellite had successfully unfurled its sails in Earth orbit. Now, sky-watchers can spot the spacecraft as it glides above Earth before atmospheric drag brings it to a fiery end sometime in the next 10 days.
While the mission is only a proof of concept, the success is a significant step towards a cost-effective way to explore the solar system.
Launched on May 20, LightSail weighs less than 11 pounds and is no bigger than a large loaf of bread.
