Why is it that the space shuttle can be seen as light traveling across the sky on a clear night?

Shortly after sunset, or before sunrise, its orbit is not in the earth's shadow. Since the shuttle is mostly white, it reflects light well and can be seen when the sky is dark enough. In the middle of the night, you can't see it.Why is it that the space shuttle can be seen as light traveling across the sky on a clear night?
The shuttle and other satellites can be seen because they are not in the earth's shadow. I'd never noticed this until I was camping in the mountains of Washington. A friend pointed out the number of satellites you could see.Why is it that the space shuttle can be seen as light traveling across the sky on a clear night?
It may be night time on the surface of Earth, but the shuttle is over a hundred miles higher where sunlight can still reach it and be reflected.
it is reflected sunlight. as long as the orbiter is in a path that is not directly behind the earth, it will be high enough to reflect the sunlight and you can see it.





NASA j track software is great
Check out the NASA link below, much info there on the shuttle
because the fire from the engines cause a bright light lol
Sunlight reflection. Only happens a few hours before sunrise and after sunset.

Ltd