See the ISS from Chicago

When the International Space Station and other bright satellites can be seen from Chicago, USA, where to look, and what's overhead right now.

Next chance to see the ISS from Chicago

Tue 10 Nov at 18:30

Low in the sky · visible for 2 min

Best chance: Fri 13 Nov at 17:43, climbing to 80° up.

Appears
18:30
10° up, in the south-west
Highest
18:31
28° up, in the south
Fades out
18:31
28° up, in the south

A fist at arm's length covers about 10° of sky. It looks like a bright, steady star moving quickly, with no flashing lights.

Visible passes, next 10 days

Times are Chicago time

When	What	Length	Highest	Direction
Tue 10 Nov18:30	ISSSW to S · 2 min	2 min	28°Low in the sky	SW to S
Wed 11 Nov17:42	ISSS to E · 4 min	4 min	27°Low in the sky	S to E
Wed 11 Nov19:19	ISSW to W · 16 sec	16 sec	12°Low in the sky	W to W
Thu 12 Nov18:31	ISSSW to W · 3 min	3 min	49°Good	SW to W
Fri 13 Nov17:43	ISSSW to NE · 5 min	5 min	80°Excellent	SW to NE
Sat 14 Nov16:59	ISSSE to NE · 3 min	3 min	45°Good	SE to NE
Sat 14 Nov18:32	ISSW to NW · 3 min	3 min	28°Low in the sky	W to NW
Sun 15 Nov17:44	ISSW to NE · 5 min	5 min	40°Good	W to NE
Mon 16 Nov16:57	ISSSW to NE · 6 min	6 min	63°Excellent	SW to NE
Mon 16 Nov18:34	ISSNW to NW · 2 min	2 min	18°Low in the sky	NW to NW

Not in Chicago? Use your own location

Where the stations are now

Updates every 5 seconds

International Space Station

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Tiangong space station

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Good to know

How to spot the ISS

Go outside a few minutes early and let your eyes adjust. Face the direction shown and look for a bright, steady light moving smoothly across the sky. It doesn't flash like a plane, and it crosses the sky in a few minutes. You don't need a telescope or binoculars.

Why only at dusk and dawn?

Satellites don't shine by themselves. They reflect sunlight. You can see one when your sky is dark but the Sun is still lighting it up high above you, and that mostly happens in the hours after sunset and before sunrise. A pass can end in mid-sky when the satellite enters Earth's shadow.

How to read the sky map

The map is the whole sky above you, with north at the top. The centre is straight overhead and the outer edge is the horizon. Green dots are high enough and lit by the Sun in a dark sky, though the fainter ones need a dark spot away from street lights. Grey dots are too low, in Earth's shadow, or lost in a bright sky.

How accurate are the times?

Times are calculated from the latest published orbit data, using the same standard model other trackers use. They're usually right to within a few seconds for the next day or two. The ISS sometimes adjusts its orbit, so check again on the day for passes further ahead.

Orbit data from CelesTrak.