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LIVE ORBITAL FEED

ISS Tracker

Real-time telemetry, ground track mapping, and celestial alignment monitoring.

ALTITUDE
... km
VELOCITY
... km/h
SOLAR STATUS
...
LAT / LNG
...
ISS Live Position
Moon Zenith
Sun Solar Noon
SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS // DATABASE ACCESS

I.S.S. // The Orbiting Laboratory

You are tracking the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five space agencies: NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.

ORBITAL PERIOD 92.6 min Time to circle Earth once
SUNRISES/DAY 16 Visual cycles per 24h
💡 Solar Status Explained: When the map says "DAYLIGHT", the station is bathed in full sun (panels charging). When "ECLIPSED", it has flown into Earth's shadow (night side) and is running on batteries.

MOON // The Sub-Lunar Point

The Moon icon on the map represents the Zenith Point. This is the exact geographic coordinate on Earth where the Moon is currently 90° overhead.

If you were standing on the dot, looking up, the Moon would be dead center in the sky.
📍 Perspective Check: You don't need to be at the dot to see the Moon! If you are 6,000 miles away from this icon (about 1/4 of the map width), the Moon is appearing on your horizon (rising or setting).

SUN // Solar Noon Marker

The Sun icon tracks the Sub-Solar Point. This is the spot on Earth where it is currently "High Noon" (12:00 PM Solar Time). Shadows here disappear directly under objects.

  • The icon moves West at 1,000 mph (at the equator).
  • It oscillates North/South over the year, creating our Seasons.
  • The "Daylight" side of Earth is the huge circle surrounding this dot.

PHYSICS // Ludicrous Speed

The ISS travels at 17,500 mph (28,000 km/h). It is hard to visualize that kind of speed, so let's put it in human terms.

Bullet (Rifle)
1,700 mph
F-15 Jet
1,875 mph
ISS Orbit
17,500 mph
🍕 The Pizza Delivery Metric: At this speed, if the ISS were a delivery driver, it could pick up a pizza in New York and deliver it to London in just 12 minutes.

Observer's Field Guide

Data is only half the fun. Here is how to actually see the station with your own eyes.

👁️

What does it look like?

The ISS looks like an incredibly bright star moving steadily across the sky. It does not blink (unlike airplanes) and it makes no sound.

PRO TIP If you see a bright dot fade out in the middle of the sky, you just watched the ISS fly into Earth's shadow (Sunset in space).
🌅

When can I see it?

You can only see the ISS near Dawn or Dusk. This is the "Goldilocks" time when your location is dark (night), but the station—400km up—is still reflecting sunlight.

  • Daytime: Sky is too bright.
  • Middle of Night: Station is eclipsed.
  • Twilight: Perfect visibility.
📸

How to Photograph It

You don't need a telescope. To capture the ISS as a "streak" of light:

Mode:
Manual
ISO:
400-800
Aperture:
f/2.8 - f/4
Shutter:
15-30 sec

Use a tripod. The long exposure will turn the moving station into a solid line of light across your photo.

Telemetry & Tracking FAQ

Why does the Altitude number keep changing?
The ISS does not fly in a perfect circle. Its orbit is slightly elliptical, drifting between 413 km and 422 km above Earth. Atmospheric drag also pulls it down slowly, requiring periodic "re-boosts" to push it back up.
What is the Moon marker actually showing?
It marks the Zenith Point (or Sub-Lunar Point). This is the exact geographic coordinate where the Moon is currently 90° overhead. Because Earth rotates, this marker constantly travels westward across the map.
Why doesn't the ISS fly over the Poles?
The ISS has an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees. This means it only travels between 51.6° North and 51.6° South latitude. It will never fly directly over Antarctica or the high Arctic.
What does "Solar Status: Eclipsed" mean?
This means the station has flown into the Earth's shadow (night side). Even if it is directly above your house during an eclipse phase, you cannot see it because there is no sunlight reflecting off its surface.
How fast is it moving on the map?
The ISS travels at 4.76 miles per second. If you watch the "Live Data" numbers on the tracker, you will see the longitude/latitude changing rapidly. It crosses the entire map in about 90 minutes.
Is the Moon marker related to tides?
Yes! The "Moon" marker indicates where the gravitational pull is strongest at that moment. The ocean directly under that marker (and on the exact opposite side of the Earth) will be experiencing a High Tide "bulge."