When can I see the ISS from Sydney?

The next pass over Sydney is on Thursday 16 July at 03:41 GMT+10, rising in the north. The best times to look are during the dark hours just after dusk and just before dawn, when the station is lit by the Sun while the sky around you is dark.

Which direction does the ISS appear from in Sydney?

The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Sydney begin in the western half of the sky and travel towards the east. Each pass on this page lists the exact rise and set directions.

How bright is the ISS over Sydney?

During a high pass the ISS can reach magnitude -3 to -4, brighter than any star or planet. It looks like a steady white dot moving across the sky over a few minutes. It does not blink or have coloured lights, which is how you tell it apart from an aircraft.

Do I need a telescope to see the ISS from Sydney?

No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Sydney. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

ISS Over Sydney Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Sydney, Australia will be visible to the naked eye on Thursday 16 July at 03:41 GMT+10. It rises in the north and reaches a maximum elevation of 11 degrees above the horizon, a low pass close to the horizon. The pass lasts about 30 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Open the live pass tracker for Sydney →

Next visible ISS passes over Sydney

When (local time)	Direction	Max elevation	Visible for	Brightness
Thursday 16 July 03:41 GMT+10	N → ESE	11°Low	30 sec	Faintmag 2.1
Thursday 16 July 05:17 GMT+10	NW → SE	53°Very good	5 min	Brightmag -2.6
Friday 17 July 04:29 GMT+10	NW → SE	79°Excellent	2 min 20 sec	Faintmag 0.4
Friday 17 July 06:07 GMT+10	W → SSE	13°Low	5 min 40 sec	Moderatemag -1.1
Saturday 18 July 05:19 GMT+10	W → SE	19°Fair	3 min 30 sec	Faintmag -0.8
Sunday 19 July 04:31 GMT+10	WNW → SE	30°Good	1 min 20 sec	Faintmag 0.8
Tuesday 21 July 04:34 GMT+10	W → SSE	13°Low	40 sec	Faintmag 1.0

Showing the next 7 naked-eye visible passes over Sydney, in local time (Australia/Sydney). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Sydney?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Sydney several times a month, whenever it passes overhead during the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise while it is still catching sunlight against a dark sky. No telescope is needed; the station is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is easily seen with the unaided eye. Your next good opportunity from Sydney is on Thursday 16 July at around 03:46 GMT+10, when the station climbs to 11 degrees above the horizon.

About the International Space Station

The International Space Station is the largest human-made structure in orbit, about the size of a football pitch and weighing roughly 420 tonnes. It circles the Earth at an altitude of around 420 kilometres and a speed of about 28,000 kilometres per hour, completing one orbit roughly every 90 minutes. That means the crew on board see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.

Because the station is so large and its solar panels are so reflective, it shines by reflected sunlight and can become one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It is visible from the ground without any equipment whenever it passes overhead during twilight, when the observer is in darkness but the station high above is still bathed in sunlight.

How to spot the ISS from Sydney

Find a spot with a clear view of the sky and as little light pollution as possible. A few minutes before the pass time listed above, look towards the rising direction shown for the pass. You do not need a telescope or binoculars; the station is easily bright enough to see with your eyes alone.

The ISS appears as a steady, bright point of light that glides smoothly across the sky. Unlike an aircraft it has no flashing or coloured lights. A pass lasts only a few minutes, and the station may suddenly fade and disappear partway across the sky as it crosses into the Earth’s shadow, so be ready and keep watching.

Frequently asked questions

When can I see the ISS from Sydney?: The next pass over Sydney is on Thursday 16 July at 03:41 GMT+10, rising in the north. The best times to look are during the dark hours just after dusk and just before dawn, when the station is lit by the Sun while the sky around you is dark.
Which direction does the ISS appear from in Sydney?: The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Sydney begin in the western half of the sky and travel towards the east. Each pass on this page lists the exact rise and set directions.
How bright is the ISS over Sydney?: During a high pass the ISS can reach magnitude -3 to -4, brighter than any star or planet. It looks like a steady white dot moving across the sky over a few minutes. It does not blink or have coloured lights, which is how you tell it apart from an aircraft.
Do I need a telescope to see the ISS from Sydney?: No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Sydney. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

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