When Can I See the ISS?
Find out when the International Space Station will pass over your location, get viewing tips, and sign up for NASA alerts.
Your Location
Current ISS Position
Updates every 5 seconds
ISS Pass Predictions for Your Location
For precise, up-to-the-minute ISS pass times tailored to your exact location, use these trusted resources:
NASA Spot The Station
Official NASA tool. Enter your location to get exact pass times, max elevation, and appear/disappear directions. Sign up for email or text alerts.
Heavens-Above
Detailed sky charts, pass predictions for the ISS and other satellites. Shows exact sky path, brightness magnitude, and timing.
ISS Viewing Tips
Best Time to Look
The ISS is best seen 1–2 hours before sunrise or after sunset, when the sky is dark but the station is still in sunlight.
What It Looks Like
A very bright, steady “star” moving smoothly across the sky. It does NOT blink or flash — that’s how you tell it from a plane.
How Long It’s Visible
A typical pass lasts 2–6 minutes. It moves faster than any plane and crosses a large part of the sky.
Brighter Than Any Star
The ISS can reach magnitude -5.9, making it the brightest moving object in the night sky (after the Moon).
Where to Look
The ISS most often appears from the west or southwest and moves toward the east or northeast. Face west to catch it early.
Clear Skies Needed
You need clear skies and minimal light pollution. Get away from bright city lights for the best view. No telescope needed!
ISS Quick Facts
Speed
27,600 km/h
17,150 mph
Altitude
~408 km
~253 miles
Orbit Time
~92 min
15.5 orbits/day
Size
109m × 73m
Football field
Inclination
51.6°
Orbital tilt
In Orbit Since
Nov 1998
25+ years
Get Notified Before the ISS Passes Over You
NASA offers free email and text alerts so you never miss a visible ISS pass. Sign up once and get notified every time the ISS is visible from your location.
What Is the International Space Station?
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest human-made object in orbit. It is a collaborative project among five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan), and CSA (Canada).
The station orbits Earth at an altitude of about 408 km (253 miles), traveling at approximately 27,600 km/h (17,150 mph). At that speed, it circles Earth every 92 minutes, experiencing about 16 sunrises and sunsets per day.
With its large solar arrays, the ISS is one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It is easily visible to the naked eye and can outshine Venus. It looks like a bright, fast-moving star that doesn't blink.