See the ISS from Tokyo

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

Next chance to see the ISS from Tokyo

Sun 8 Nov at 17:59

Low in the sky · visible for 18 sec

Best chance: Fri 13 Nov at 17:12, climbing to 86° up.

Appears
17:59
10° up, in the south
Highest
17:59
11° up, in the south-east
Fades out
17:59
11° up, in the south-east

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 Tokyo time

When	What	Length	Highest	Direction
Sat 7 Nov17:37	TiangongW to S · 5 min	5 min	23°Low in the sky	W to S
Sun 8 Nov17:59	ISSS to SE · 18 sec	18 sec	11°Low in the sky	S to SE
Mon 9 Nov17:15	TiangongSW to S · 3 min	3 min	12°Low in the sky	SW to S
Mon 9 Nov18:46	ISSSW to SW · 1 min	1 min	19°Low in the sky	SW to SW
Tue 10 Nov17:58	ISSSW to SE · 3 min	3 min	44°Good	SW to SE
Wed 11 Nov17:11	ISSS to E · 5 min	5 min	24°Low in the sky	S to E
Wed 11 Nov18:48	ISSW to W · 2 min	2 min	22°Low in the sky	W to W
Thu 12 Nov18:00	ISSSW to N · 4 min	4 min	49°Good	SW to N
Fri 13 Nov17:12	ISSSW to NE · 7 min	7 min	86°Excellent	SW to NE
Fri 13 Nov18:50	ISSNW to NW · 46 sec	46 sec	12°Low in the sky	NW to NW
Sat 14 Nov18:02	ISSW to N · 4 min	4 min	19°Low in the sky	W to N
Sun 15 Nov17:13	ISSW to NE · 6 min	6 min	29°Low in the sky	W to NE

Not in Tokyo? 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.