ISS tracker: Where is the space station now?
The International Space Station live on the map, its track for the next 90 minutes, and every visible pass over your city for the next seven days.
Now, Sunday, October 18, 10:17 PM UTC
Where is the ISS right now?
ISS orbit data from CelesTrak, fetched Oct 18, 8:14 PM UTC.
Choose your city to see when the space station passes over it.
- Position
- Altitude
- About 425 km
- Speed
- Light
- One orbit
- 93.0 minutes, 15.49 a day
- Inclination
- 51.6°
Your location stays in this browser.
Live from the station
NASA's official live stream from cameras on the International Space Station. When the station is in Earth's shadow the picture goes dark, and NASA sometimes switches to a standby screen.
Visible passes over the next 7 days
| Date | Appears | Highest | Disappears | Visible for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose your city above to list the passes. | ||||
Times in your time zone. A pass is listed when the station is at least 10° above your horizon, lit by the Sun, while your sky is dark. Passes of 40° or more are highlighted: they are the easiest to see. Click a pass to show it on the map. Orbit: CelesTrak (updated Oct 18, 20:14 UTC). Positions: SGP4 (satellite.js). Sun: Astronomy Engine. Map: Natural Earth.
How the tracker works
The position comes from the station’s latest orbit data, the two-line elements published by CelesTrak and refreshed on this site every two hours. Your browser feeds them into SGP4, the standard model for satellites in low Earth orbit, and recomputes the station’s place every two seconds. The map shows where it is, its path for the next 90 minutes, the part of Earth in daylight and darkness, and the circle of places that have the station above their horizon at that moment. The slider under the map moves the station up to 24 hours ahead.
The station's current orbit takes 93.0 minutes, 15.49 orbits a day, at an average height of about 425 km (265 miles), inclined 51.6 degrees to the equator.When you can see the station
NASA explains that the station is visible because it reflects sunlight, the same reason the Moon shines, and that it is not bright enough to see during the day. Sightings therefore come at dawn and dusk, when your sky is dark but the station, about 400 kilometers up, is still in sunlight. NASA says viewing opportunities range from one a month to several a week, depending on where you are.
The table lists a pass as visible when three things are true at once: the station is at least 10 degrees above your horizon, it is lit by the Sun, and the Sun is at least 6 degrees below your horizon. Passes that climb to 40 degrees or more are the easiest to spot.
What to look for
The station looks like a bright point of light moving steadily across the sky, and a whole pass lasts only a few minutes. Look toward the direction in the “Appears” column at the listed time. A pass can end suddenly in mid-sky: that is the moment the station enters Earth’s shadow.
The station in numbers
According to NASA, the International Space Station travels at about five miles per second and circles Earth about every 90 minutes, making 16 orbits a day, so its crew sees 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. It measures 109 meters (356 feet) from end to end, nearly the length of an American football field, and has been continuously occupied since November 2000.
Common questions
Where is the ISS right now?
The station's current orbit takes 93.0 minutes, 15.49 orbits a day, at an average height of about 425 km (265 miles), inclined 51.6 degrees to the equator. The map at the top follows it live.
When can I see the ISS tonight?
Choose your city at the top of the page to see when the station passes over it. If no pass is listed, the station only crosses your sky in daylight or in Earth’s shadow this week.
How fast does the ISS travel?
NASA puts its speed at about five miles per second. The live figure at the top, in kilometers and miles per hour, comes from the orbit model.
Why can’t I see the ISS every night?
The station has to pass within sight of you while it is still in sunlight and your sky is already dark. That combination happens only around dawn and dusk, and only on some days; NASA says opportunities range from one a month to several a week.
Can I see the ISS during the day?
No. NASA says the station is not bright enough to see during the day.
