When can I see the ISS from Vienna?

The next pass over Vienna is on Saturday 17 October at 04:51 CEST, rising in the south. 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 Vienna?

The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Vienna 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 Vienna?

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 Vienna?

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

ISS Over Vienna Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Vienna, Austria will be visible to the naked eye on Saturday 17 October at 04:51 CEST. It rises in the south and reaches a maximum elevation of 11 degrees above the horizon, a low pass close to the horizon. The pass lasts about 5 min 20 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 Vienna →

Next visible ISS passes over Vienna

When (local time)	Direction	Max elevation	Visible for	Brightness
Saturday 17 October 04:51 CEST	S → E	11°Low	5 min 20 sec	Faintmag 0.0
Saturday 17 October 06:26 CEST	SW → ENE	55°Very good	9 min 30 sec	Brightmag -2.5
Sunday 18 October 05:39 CEST	SW → ENE	37°Good	7 min 10 sec	Moderatemag -1.9
Monday 19 October 04:52 CEST	SSW → ENE	25°Good	4 min 50 sec	Faintmag -0.9
Monday 19 October 06:28 CEST	WSW → ENE	77°Excellent	8 min 50 sec	Very brightmag -3.2
Tuesday 20 October 04:05 CEST	SSW → ENE	17°Fair	2 min 20 sec	Faintmag 1.2
Tuesday 20 October 05:41 CEST	WSW → ENE	80°Excellent	6 min 30 sec	Very brightmag -3.2
Wednesday 21 October 03:18 CEST	S → E	11°Low	10 sec	Faintmag 2.1
Wednesday 21 October 04:53 CEST	SW → ENE	56°Very good	4 min 20 sec	Moderatemag -1.1
Wednesday 21 October 06:30 CEST	W → ENE	51°Very good	8 min 20 sec	Brightmag -2.8
Thursday 22 October 04:06 CEST	SW → ENE	38°Good	2 min 20 sec	Faintmag 1.2
Thursday 22 October 05:43 CEST	W → ENE	60°Excellent	6 min 10 sec	Very brightmag -3.1

Showing the next 12 naked-eye visible passes over Vienna, in local time (Europe/Vienna). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Vienna?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Vienna 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 Vienna is on Saturday 17 October at around 04:55 CEST, 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 Vienna

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 Vienna?: The next pass over Vienna is on Saturday 17 October at 04:51 CEST, rising in the south. 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 Vienna?: The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Vienna 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 Vienna?: 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 Vienna?: No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Vienna. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

Nearby cities

ISS over Budapest · Hungary
ISS over Pest · Hungary
ISS over Prague · Czechia
ISS over Zagreb · Croatia
ISS over Wrocław · Poland
ISS over Kraków · Poland