SpaceNexus Guide: How to Use the Satellite Tracker

The SpaceNexus Satellite Tracker gives you a comprehensive view of the orbital environment, from the International Space Station to the latest Starlink deployment. Whether you're a satellite operator monitoring your fleet, a journalist researching a story, a student learning about orbital mechanics, or an analyst tracking constellation growth, this guide will help you get the most out of the tool.

Getting Started: The Live Map

When you open the Satellite Tracker, you'll see a live map of satellite positions computed from CelesTrak's latest orbital elements:

• Catalog counts: how many satellites are loaded, broken down by orbit class (LEO, MEO, GEO, HEO)
• ISS position: the International Space Station's latitude, longitude and altitude, recomputed every 30 seconds. The "Track Live on N2YO" and "Spot the Station" links let you follow the ISS in your sky
• Notable Satellites: highlights of significant spacecraft, such as the ISS, the Hubble Space Telescope, and weather and navigation satellites

Finding Satellites

The sidebar next to the map lets you narrow the catalog:

• Search: Type any satellite name or NORAD ID. Searching "Starlink" shows Starlink satellites; searching "25544" finds the ISS by its NORAD catalog number
• Orbit Filter: Narrow results to LEO, MEO, GEO or HEO
• Category Filter: Show space stations, Starlink, weather satellites, GPS navigation satellites, or all active satellites

The count above the results shows how many satellites match, and the clear-filters button resets everything back to the full catalog view.

Common Use Cases

For Satellite Operators

Use search and the orbit filter to focus on your constellation and neighboring objects. The related modules at the bottom of the page link to other tools, such as space weather data.

For Analysts and Researchers

Use the orbit and category breakdowns to understand how the orbital population is distributed. Positions are computed from CelesTrak orbital elements, and the source note on the page says where each figure comes from.

For Students and Enthusiasts

Start with the ISS Highlight Card: it's the most tangible connection to space. Use the "Spot the Station" link to find when the ISS passes over your location. Browse Notable Satellites to learn about significant spacecraft and their missions.

Tips and Tricks

• Data freshness: The page shows when the orbital elements were fetched. SpaceNexus downloads CelesTrak elements at most every 6 hours
• Related reading: The bottom of the page links to in-depth articles about satellite tracking, Starlink, and mega-constellations for deeper context

What's Next

We're continuously improving the Satellite Tracker. Create a free account to get notified when new capabilities launch.

Open the Satellite Tracker