No, it is not possible to see individual astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) through a regular telescope from the Earth's surface. The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles), and its relatively small size, coupled with the vast distances involved, makes it difficult to observe with standard telescopes.
While the ISS is visible from Earth with the naked eye under certain conditions, it appears as a bright moving point of light, similar to a star, rather than as a detailed object with distinguishable features such as astronauts. When the ISS is visible, it is usually due to sunlight reflecting off its large solar panels or other reflective surfaces.
To observe the ISS more clearly and in greater detail, specialized equipment such as high-powered telescopes and imaging devices are required. Space agencies and amateur astronomers sometimes use advanced telescopes equipped with adaptive optics and sophisticated imaging techniques to capture detailed images of the ISS during specific events like a transit across the Sun or the Moon.
However, it's important to note that even with advanced equipment, capturing images of individual astronauts on the ISS remains challenging due to the factors mentioned earlier, including the size of the station and the distances involved.