Space AtlasWhat satellites are above me right now?
Right now, 21,693 tracked objects are circling Earth, and dozens of them are passing over your part of the sky at this very moment. Space Atlas locates you and shows which satellites are overhead on a live 3D map, using the same public tracking data that ground stations use, so the view matches the real sky.
Opens the atlas and asks for your location. Nothing is stored, and you can explore the sky from anywhere on Earth.
How the overhead map works
- It reads your location once (or you can pick any spot on the map) and computes which satellites are above your local horizon this minute.
- Live-tracked satellites use their current orbital elements, so their positions line up with what real trackers and telescopes see.
- A looking-up sky chart puts the zenith at the centre with north up, and colours each dot by its orbit, so you can match a real light to the map.
- Switch to the Sky view to turn a phone into a pointable window on the sky and get the next visible passes of the ISS and other bright satellites over you.
Satellite, plane or star? A quick guide
One steady point of light, no flashing, silent, gliding in a straight line across the sky in a few minutes.
Blinking red and green lights, often a faint engine sound, following flight paths near airports.
Stays put relative to the other stars and drifts only with the slow turning of the whole sky.
Looking for something specific?
The two easiest sights are the International Space Station, the brightest object up there, and the Starlink train, a striking line of lights just after a launch. Both have their own spotting guides:
Frequently asked questions
- How can I tell if a light in the sky is a satellite or a plane?
- A satellite is a single steady point of light that glides smoothly across the sky in a straight line, with no flashing and no sound. A plane has blinking red and green navigation lights and usually a low hum. If the light is steady, silent and takes a few minutes to cross from one horizon toward another, it is almost certainly a satellite catching the sunlight. Check what is above you now
- Is that moving star a satellite?
- Stars stay fixed relative to each other and rise and set slowly with the whole sky. A point of light that drifts steadily across the star field in a minute or two is a satellite reflecting the Sun, not a star. The brightest ones, like the International Space Station, can outshine every real star in the sky.
- How many satellites are above me at once?
- From a dark site on a clear night you can often see dozens of satellites in a single hour, and a handful crossing at any given moment. Thousands of tracked objects are in orbit at once, and the live map shows exactly which of them are above your local horizon this minute. Open the live overhead map
- What is the best time to see satellites?
- The couple of hours after dusk and before dawn are best. During that twilight window the sky above you is dark but satellites high overhead are still lit by the Sun, so they light up while the background is black. In the middle of the night many satellites pass through Earth's shadow and go dark.
- Why do satellites suddenly disappear?
- A satellite shines only because it reflects sunlight. When it flies into Earth's shadow the sunlight is cut off and it fades out within a few seconds, even though it is still there and still moving. This is normal and is one more way to tell a satellite from an aircraft.