See the ISS from Los Angeles

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

Next chance to see the ISS from Los Angeles

Sat 7 Nov at 18:47

Low in the sky · visible for 31 sec

Best chance: Tue 10 Nov at 18:00, climbing to 69° up.

Appears
18:47
10° up, in the south
Highest
18:47
13° up, in the south
Fades out
18:47
13° 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 Los Angeles time

When	What	Length	Highest	Direction
Sat 7 Nov17:30	TiangongW to SE · 6 min	6 min	28°Low in the sky	W to SE
Sat 7 Nov18:47	ISSS to S · 31 sec	31 sec	13°Low in the sky	S to S
Sun 8 Nov18:00	ISSS to SE · 2 min	2 min	18°Low in the sky	S to SE
Mon 9 Nov18:48	ISSSW to W · 2 min	2 min	35°Good	SW to W
Tue 10 Nov18:00	ISSSW to NE · 5 min	5 min	69°Excellent	SW to NE
Wed 11 Nov17:16	ISSE to NE · 2 min	2 min	29°Low in the sky	E to NE
Wed 11 Nov18:50	ISSW to NW · 2 min	2 min	20°Low in the sky	W to NW
Thu 12 Nov18:01	ISSW to N · 5 min	5 min	33°Good	W to N
Fri 13 Nov17:15	ISSSW to NE · 5 min	5 min	61°Excellent	SW to NE
Sat 14 Nov18:04	ISSNW to N · 4 min	4 min	14°Low in the sky	NW to N
Sun 15 Nov17:15	ISSW to N · 5 min	5 min	21°Low in the sky	W to N

Not in Los Angeles? Use your own location

Where the stations are now

Updates every 5 seconds

International Space Station

Directly above: Loading…
Height: Loading…
Speed: Loading…

Tiangong space station

Directly above: Loading…
Height: Loading…
Speed: Loading…

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.