CÓMO VER LA ISS ESTA NOCHE

The ISS is visible to the naked eye (and it's easier than you think)

The International Space Station is the third-brightest object in the sky, behind only the Sun and the Moon. On its best passes it outshines Venus and every star. You don't need a telescope, binoculars, or a trip out of the city: the ISS is perfectly visible to the naked eye even from the center of a light-polluted metropolis. All you need to know is when and where to look — and that's exactly what this site is for.

Why can you see the ISS if it has no lights?

The station emits no light of its own: what you see is sunlight reflecting off its enormous solar arrays, which span an area the size of a football field. That's why it's only visible in a very specific window: when it's already dark at your location but the station, 400 km up, is still catching direct sunlight. That combination only happens during the first hour or ninety minutes after sunset, or before sunrise.

This also explains one of the most striking things you'll see: sometimes the ISS crosses the sky and then fades out within seconds. It hasn't gone anywhere — it has simply entered Earth's shadow and stopped reflecting the Sun.

What time does the ISS pass over your city?

The ISS completes a full lap around Earth every 90-93 minutes — about 16 orbits a day — traveling at 27,600 km/h (17,150 mph). But its orbit is inclined 51.6 degrees to the equator and Earth rotates beneath it, so every orbit flies over a different strip of the planet. The result: there is no fixed schedule — visible passes over your city change daily, with stretches of several weeks without any, followed by streaks of bright passes every night.

The reliable way to know is to calculate it from real orbital data. In our visible pass calculator, tap "Sync Position" and you'll get, for your exact location: the pass start time, its duration, maximum elevation above the horizon, and which compass direction to face.

How to tell the ISS apart from a plane, a satellite, or a star

• It doesn't blink. Planes carry strobe lights that flash; the ISS is a completely steady, golden-white point of light.
• It doesn't change course. It crosses the sky in a straight line, always generally west → east, taking 2 to 6 minutes.
• It's far brighter than any other satellite. Ordinary satellites look like faint points; the ISS stands out immediately even under light pollution.
• It makes no sound. Obvious but useful: if you hear engines, it's a plane.
• Seeing a "string of dots" moving in a line? That's not the ISS — it's a freshly launched Starlink satellite train (you can track those too on our live map).

Quick guide: your first observation in 5 steps

1. Calculate the next visible pass from your location with the calculator. Note the time, appearance direction, and max elevation.
2. Go outside 5 minutes early. Orbital punctuality is absolute: the ISS is never late or early. Let your eyes adapt to the dark.
3. Face the indicated direction (passes usually begin in the west, southwest, or northwest). The station will appear as a bright point gaining altitude.
4. Follow it across the sky. On a good pass it will brighten toward its highest point, then descend toward the opposite horizon or vanish as it enters Earth's shadow.
5. Wave. There's a crew of astronauts living and working up there. See who's aboard right now.

How to photograph the ISS with a phone or camera

With a modern phone: use night mode or pro mode, rest the phone on something stable (or use a tripod), focus at infinity, and try 2-10 second exposures. The ISS will show up as a bright streak crossing the frame.

With a DSLR or mirrorless camera: tripod, wide lens, ISO 400-800, aperture as open as possible (f/2.8-f/4), and 10-30 second exposures. The longer the exposure, the longer the streak. The best shots combine the ISS trail with an interesting foreground: a building, a tree, a mountain.

Quick questions

How often can you see the ISS?

It depends on your latitude and the season: some stretches offer visible passes almost every night, others go weeks without any. Check the calculator regularly for the week's upcoming passes.

Can you see it during the day?

Not with the naked eye: the daytime sky is too bright. It's only observable in that twilight margin when you're in darkness and the station is still sunlit.

What does it look like through binoculars or a telescope?

Good binoculars already reveal it's not a point — you can make out an elongated shape. With a telescope and plenty of practice (it moves fast!) you can distinguish the solar arrays and the H-shaped structure. But again: to enjoy it, you need nothing but your eyes.