ISS Over Karaj Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Karaj, Iran will be visible to the naked eye on Thursday 24 September at 19:44 GMT+3:30. It rises in the northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 26 degrees above the horizon, a clear pass well above the horizon. The pass lasts about 4 min. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Karaj

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Thursday 24 September
19:44 GMT+3:30
NWESE26°Good4 minModeratemag -1.0
Thursday 24 September
21:20 GMT+3:30
WNWSSE27°Good10 secFaintmag 2.3
Friday 25 September
18:56 GMT+3:30
NWE17°Fair6 minModeratemag -1.3
Friday 25 September
20:32 GMT+3:30
NWSE52°Very good2 min 20 secFaintmag 1.2
Saturday 26 September
19:45 GMT+3:30
NWSE80°Excellent4 min 20 secModeratemag -1.4
Sunday 27 September
18:57 GMT+3:30
NWESE42°Very good6 min 20 secBrightmag -2.7
Sunday 27 September
20:34 GMT+3:30
WNWS15°Fair2 min 20 secFaintmag 1.3
Monday 28 September
19:46 GMT+3:30
WNWSSE28°Good4 min 50 secFaintmag -0.9
Tuesday 29 September
18:58 GMT+3:30
NWSE53°Very good7 min 20 secBrightmag -2.5
Wednesday 30 September
18:10 GMT+3:30
NWSE78°Excellent3 min 50 secBrightmag -2.9
Thursday 1 October
19:00 GMT+3:30
WNWS16°Fair8 min 30 secFaintmag -0.2
Friday 2 October
18:12 GMT+3:30
WNWSSE28°Good8 min 20 secModeratemag -1.0

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

Can you see the ISS from Karaj?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Karaj 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 Karaj is on Thursday 24 September at around 19:49 GMT+3:30, when the station climbs to 26 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 Karaj

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 Karaj?
The next pass over Karaj is on Thursday 24 September at 19:44 GMT+3:30, 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 Karaj?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Karaj 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 Karaj?
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 Karaj?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Karaj. 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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