See which of CelesTrak's active satellites are above your horizon right now, computed from their latest orbital elements, plus the next naked-eye passes of the ISS, Tiangong and Hubble.
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Your complete guide to seeing satellites with the naked eye, from the brilliant ISS to stunning Starlink trains.
Ranked by brightness and ease of spotting. Magnitude is a measure of brightness: lower (more negative) numbers mean brighter objects.
The brightest artificial object in the sky. At magnitude -6, the ISS outshines Venus and is unmistakable as it crosses the sky in 4-6 minutes. It orbits at ~408 km altitude and can cast visible shadows at peak brightness.
Shortly after SpaceX launches a batch, Starlink satellites travel in a "train" formation: a stunning string of lights moving across the sky in sequence. They become fainter as they raise orbit, but fresh trains are unforgettable.
Orbiting at ~540 km in a 28.5-degree inclination, Hubble is visible from mid-latitudes and appears as a steady, moderately bright star gliding across the sky. Best spotted when the sun angle is just right.
China's modular space station orbits at ~390 km and can rival Jupiter in brightness. Its 41.5-degree inclination means it's best observed from latitudes between 42 N and 42 S.
The original Iridium constellation was famous for producing brief but incredibly bright "flares" as sunlight reflected off their door-sized antennas. Most have deorbited, but a few remain and still produce spectacular predictable flashes.
Maximize your chances of a successful sighting.
Avoid looking at your phone for at least 10-15 minutes before observing. Use a red flashlight if you need light. Your pupils need time to fully dilate for maximum sensitivity.
Most satellite passes arc from west to east. Facing south gives you the widest view of the transit arc. In the southern hemisphere, face north instead.
Satellite passes are brief, typically 2 to 6 minutes. Arrive a few minutes early, get comfortable, and watch the predicted direction. If you miss one pass, another is usually within a day or two.
Standard 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars dramatically improve your experience. They reveal fainter satellites, show color differences, and let you see the ISS as more than just a dot. A tripod adapter helps for steady viewing.
Light pollution washes out fainter satellites. Even moving to a suburban park can help. The ISS is visible from cities, but Starlink trains and Hubble need darker skies for best results.
Clear skies are essential. Cloud cover blocks even the brightest satellites. Check your local forecast and have a backup date planned. Thin cirrus clouds can reduce brightness by several magnitudes.
These tools predict exactly when and where satellites will appear from your location.
Our built-in live tracker shows real-time positions of the ISS, Starlink, weather satellites, and more on an interactive map. Filter by orbit type and search by name or NORAD ID.
Open Tracker →Classic web-based tool for predicting satellite passes from your location. Provides sky charts, exact pass times, brightness predictions, and Iridium flare forecasts.
Visit →Mobile app for Android and iOS that sends push notifications before bright ISS passes. Includes a compass mode that points you at the satellite in real time.
Web-based satellite tracking with 3D visualization. Tracks over 20,000 objects and provides 10-day pass predictions for your location.
Visit →Free open-source planetarium that includes satellite overlays. Use it to preview exactly where a satellite will appear against the stars from your backyard.
Visit →Capture satellite trails and ISS passes with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Week in Space Data, every Friday.