Satellites Above Me Tonight
Explore bright satellites above your horizon, see a live sky radar, and inspect each orbit.
How to use this tracker
Search your city or use device location. Green objects meet the basic darkness, elevation, and sunlight checks for possible optical visibility.
The live tool above converts current orbital elements into observer-relative positions for the location you choose. Use it to find promising passes, then use the guide below to understand elevation, direction, sunlight and prediction limits before you go outside.
What “above me” actually means
A satellite can be geometrically above your horizon without being visible to your eyes. The tracker starts with your latitude and longitude, propagates public orbital elements forward in time, and converts the spacecraft position into local azimuth and elevation. Elevation of 0° is on the horizon and 90° is directly overhead.
A pass that climbs high in the sky usually spends less time behind buildings, trees and atmospheric haze. Very low passes are more easily blocked and are viewed through more atmosphere, so an object may be technically above the horizon but still difficult to spot.
Why a satellite can be sunlit while your sky is dark
Most satellites seen without a telescope are visible because they reflect sunlight. Around dusk and dawn, you can already be in Earth’s shadow while a spacecraft hundreds of kilometres above you remains illuminated by the Sun. This geometry creates many of the best viewing windows.
The tracker therefore separates orbital position from likely optical visibility. A calculated position can be useful even when the object is not expected to be bright. Clouds, haze, local light pollution, spacecraft orientation and exact apparent magnitude can still change what you actually see.
How the orbit calculation works
TagBuilder Space uses current public orbital data and SGP4 propagation for Earth-orbiting objects. SGP4 is a standard mathematical model used with TLE/OMM-style element sets to estimate where a satellite should be at a requested time. The result is a propagated position, not a direct GPS transmission from the spacecraft.
Orbital elements age. Atmospheric drag, planned manoeuvres and new tracking observations can make newer elements more accurate than older ones. For that reason, check the source and last-successful-sync indicators in the live tool when planning a pass.
A practical observing workflow
Set your exact city or device location, look for a pass with a useful maximum elevation, and note the start direction. Go outside a few minutes early, choose a wide view of the sky and allow your eyes to adapt. Start scanning near the predicted entry direction and follow the object as it climbs.
Orbital data source and methodology
Earth-orbit data are based on public orbital elements from CelesTrak. TagBuilder Space calculates observer-relative geometry from those elements and keeps last-good data when a provider is temporarily unavailable rather than fabricating replacement values.
Frequently asked questions
Is every satellite above the horizon visible?
No. Geometry, sunlight, object brightness, atmospheric conditions and local obstructions all matter.
Why did the predicted time change since yesterday?
New orbital elements or spacecraft manoeuvres can shift a propagated pass. Recheck close to observing time.
What is the best elevation for viewing?
There is no single cutoff, but higher passes generally avoid more horizon obstruction and atmospheric haze.
Does the tracker use my precise location permanently?
The location is used to calculate your local sky geometry. Browser/device permission rules control whether geolocation can be supplied.
Which satellites are above me tonight?
The answer depends on your location and the exact time. A satellite that is high in the sky for one city can be below the horizon for another. The tracker above converts current public orbital elements into observer-relative positions for the coordinates you choose, then separates objects that are merely above the horizon from those with more favorable optical-viewing geometry.
For a satellite to be worth looking for, three things usually have to line up: the spacecraft must be above your local horizon, it normally needs to be illuminated by the Sun, and your sky needs to be dark enough. Clouds, haze, city light pollution and the spacecraft's exact brightness are not fully determined by orbital geometry, so a predicted opportunity is not a guarantee of a naked-eye sighting.
What azimuth and elevation tell you
Azimuth gives the compass direction to look. An azimuth near 0° is north, 90° is east, 180° is south and 270° is west. Elevation gives the angle above your horizon. A pass at only a few degrees elevation can be hidden by buildings, trees or haze, while a higher pass is usually easier to follow.
The tracker calculates these values from your observer coordinates and the propagated satellite position. That is why setting an accurate location is more useful than relying on a generic city center when you are planning a specific pass.
Why dusk and dawn are often best for satellite watching
Many good satellite sightings occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise. At those times you can already be standing in darkness while a spacecraft hundreds of kilometers above Earth still receives sunlight. The illuminated spacecraft can then reflect some of that light toward the ground.
If you want to compare darkness and Moon conditions before going outside, use Sky Tonight. For a single bright crewed spacecraft, open the ISS Live Tracker. If you are specifically looking for a recently deployed group, try Starlink Train Tonight.
How satellite positions are calculated
Earth-orbiting objects on this site are propagated from public orbital-element data using SGP4-style calculations rather than a direct GPS feed from every spacecraft. The elements have an epoch and must be refreshed periodically because drag, maneuvers and new tracking observations change the best estimate of an orbit. CelesTrak explains modern GP/OMM data and SGP4 usage in its orbital-data documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Does “above my horizon” mean visible?
No. It means the geometry places the object above your horizon. Sunlight, sky darkness, brightness, weather and obstructions still matter.
Why can a prediction change later?
Fresh orbital elements can improve the calculated path, especially for objects that maneuver or experience noticeable atmospheric drag.