ISS Over Ahmedabad Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Ahmedabad, India will be visible to the naked eye on Thursday 23 July at 22:52 GMT+5:30. It rises in the northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 57 degrees above the horizon, a high, bright pass that is easy to spot. The pass lasts about 20 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Ahmedabad

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Thursday 23 July
22:52 GMT+5:30
NWSE57°Very good20 secFaintmag 2.3
Friday 24 July
22:05 GMT+5:30
NNWESE27°Good2 minFaintmag 1.3
Saturday 25 July
21:18 GMT+5:30
NNWESE15°Low3 min 30 secFaintmag -0.1
Sunday 26 July
22:06 GMT+5:30
NWSSE62°Excellent2 minFaintmag 1.3
Monday 27 July
21:19 GMT+5:30
NWSE56°Very good3 min 50 secFaintmag -0.7
Tuesday 28 July
20:32 GMT+5:30
NNWESE27°Good5 min 50 secModeratemag -1.9
Tuesday 28 July
22:09 GMT+5:30
WNWS14°Low1 min 40 secFaintmag 1.4
Wednesday 29 July
19:44 GMT+5:30
NNWESE15°Low5 min 10 secModeratemag -1.0
Wednesday 29 July
21:21 GMT+5:30
NWSSE28°Good4 min 10 secFaintmag -0.5
Thursday 30 July
20:33 GMT+5:30
NWSSE63°Excellent6 min 30 secBrightmag -2.9
Friday 31 July
19:45 GMT+5:30
NWSE56°Very good8 min 20 secVery brightmag -3.0

Showing the next 11 naked-eye visible passes over Ahmedabad, in local time (Asia/Kolkata). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Ahmedabad?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Ahmedabad 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 Ahmedabad is on Thursday 23 July at around 22:58 GMT+5:30, when the station climbs to 57 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 Ahmedabad

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 Ahmedabad?
The next pass over Ahmedabad is on Thursday 23 July at 22:52 GMT+5:30, rising in the northwest. 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 Ahmedabad?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Ahmedabad 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 Ahmedabad?
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 Ahmedabad?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Ahmedabad. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

Other cities in India

Nearby cities

Learn more