The International Space Station
When does it pass over you?
It crosses the whole sky in about six minutes, brighter than any star. Set your location to count down to the next visible pass.
Watching from
Live ISS tracker — spot the station in real time
See exactly where the International Space Station is right now as it orbits Earth at 28,000 km/h — then get a free email alert before it passes over your town, so you never miss it.
Live position updates every few seconds
When will the ISS pass over you?
Visible passes only — after dusk or before dawn, shown in the selected location's local time.
Set your location above to see upcoming passes.
- ~400km
- Orbit altitude
- 28,000km/h
- Orbital speed
- ~90min
- One orbit
- 16
- Sunrises per day
Where is the ISS right now?
The International Space Station never stops moving. Circling the planet roughly every 90 minutes, it crosses entire oceans and continents in the time it takes to watch a movie. The map above pulls the station's live coordinates and projects its orbit ground track — the dotted line showing where it has just been and where it's heading next.
Each reading shows the station's latitude and longitude, its altitude (around 400 km above the surface), its blistering orbital speed, and whether it's currently flying through daylight or Earth's shadow.
Wondering when it flies over you? Check whether the ISS is visible tonight, browse pass times by city, or read how our predictions are computed.
What you're looking at
- The marker is the station's exact sub-point — the spot on Earth directly beneath it.
- The dotted line is one full orbit of ground track, computed from live orbital data.
- The badge tells you which country or ocean the ISS is passing over at this moment.
- Sunlight status shows if the crew is in daylight — key for spotting it from the ground.
How to spot the ISS from your backyard
You don't need a telescope. The ISS is one of the brightest objects in the night sky — a steady white point of light gliding silently overhead in just a few minutes. The trick is knowing when to look up.
- Step 1
Pick the right time
Look in the hour after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is dark but the station is still catching sunlight.
- Step 2
Find a clear horizon
Get away from bright lights with a wide view of the sky. Passes rise from one horizon and set at the opposite one.
- Step 3
Watch it move
The ISS looks like a fast, steady star — no blinking lights. A bright pass can last two to five minutes.
Get alerted. Never miss the ISS again.
We email you about an hour before every visible pass over your town — just step outside and look up at the right moment. Free, no app, no account, unsubscribe anytime.
Get alerted — it's freeFrequently asked questions about seeing the ISS
Where is the International Space Station right now?
The live map at the top of this page shows the ISS's exact position over Earth, updated every few seconds. It also displays the station's current altitude (around 400 km), speed (about 28,000 km/h), and the country or ocean it is currently passing over.
How fast does the ISS travel?
The ISS orbits Earth at roughly 28,000 km/h (about 17,500 mph), completing one full orbit every 90 to 93 minutes. That means astronauts on board see roughly 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
How high does the ISS orbit?
The station orbits in low Earth orbit at an average altitude of about 400 kilometers (250 miles). Its exact height changes slightly over time and is periodically boosted to counteract atmospheric drag.
Can you see the ISS from Earth with the naked eye?
Yes. The ISS is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is easily visible without a telescope. It looks like a fast-moving, steady white dot — brighter than most stars. The best time to see it is shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is dark but the station is still lit by the Sun.
What time will the space station be visible tonight?
Use the pass predictor next to the live map: enter your town (or use your current location) and it lists the next visible passes for your exact spot — date, time, direction, how high it climbs, and how bright it will be. Visible passes happen in the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise, and visibility runs in roughly two-week cycles, so some nights have several passes and others none.
How do I get alerted when the ISS is about to pass over me?
Pick your location in the pass predictor, then enter your email in the Get Alerted box below it. We'll send you a free email about an hour before every visible pass over your town, so you just step outside and look up at the right time. No app or account needed, and you can unsubscribe with one click.
Is this the same as NASA's Spot the Station?
It's the same idea — helping you spot the International Space Station — in one page. SpotTheISS combines a live map of where the station is right now, visible pass predictions for your exact location, and free email alerts before each pass, all in the browser with no app to install.
How long does an ISS pass last?
A typical visible pass lasts two to five minutes from horizon to horizon. High passes (60° or more above the horizon) last longest and look brightest; low passes may only be visible for a minute or two above rooftops and trees. The pass predictor shows the expected duration for every upcoming pass.
Does the ISS blink or have flashing lights?
No. The ISS shines with a steady, unblinking white light — it's sunlight reflecting off the station's solar panels, not onboard lights. If you see blinking red or green lights, that's an aircraft. A steady point of light moving smoothly across the sky is the station.
Why isn't the ISS visible tonight?
ISS visibility runs in cycles of roughly two weeks. For a pass to be visible, the station must fly over your area while your sky is dark but the station is still catching sunlight — in some weeks all its passes over you happen in daylight or in Earth's shadow. If tonight is empty, sign up for free pass alerts and we'll email you when the next visible pass is coming.
Can I photograph the ISS?
Yes. The easiest shot is a long exposure: put a camera or a phone with night mode on a tripod, point it where the pass will cross, and expose for 10–30 seconds — the station draws a bright streak across the frame. The pass predictor tells you exactly where to aim and when.
Is this ISS tracker accurate?
Yes. The tracker uses the latest published orbital elements (TLEs) for the station from CelesTrak — the same data professional satellite trackers use — and computes its position with the standard SGP4 model via satellite.js. The live position, orbit track, and pass predictions all come from this data, so they closely match the station's real path.