ISS Over Genoa Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Genoa, Italy will be visible to the naked eye on Saturday 18 July at 21:29 CEST. It rises in the west-northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 24 degrees above the horizon, a lower pass that may be partly blocked by buildings or trees. The pass lasts about 30 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Genoa

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Saturday 18 July
21:29 CEST
WNWENE24°Fair30 secFaintmag 0.1
Saturday 18 July
23:06 CEST
WNWESE51°Very good6 min 50 secBrightmag -2.5
Sunday 19 July
00:43 CEST
WNWSSE26°Good2 min 50 secFaintmag -0.2
Sunday 19 July
22:18 CEST
WNWE37°Good8 min 20 secModeratemag -1.9
Sunday 19 July
23:55 CEST
WNWSE42°Very good4 min 20 secModeratemag -1.7
Monday 20 July
21:31 CEST
WNWE30°Good4 min 10 secModeratemag -1.6
Monday 20 July
23:07 CEST
WNWSE70°Excellent5 min 50 secVery brightmag -3.3
Tuesday 21 July
22:20 CEST
WNWESE76°Excellent7 min 30 secVery brightmag -3.2
Tuesday 21 July
23:57 CEST
WNWSSE17°Fair3 min 20 secFaintmag -0.4
Wednesday 22 July
21:32 CEST
WNWESE51°Very good7 min 20 secBrightmag -2.6
Wednesday 22 July
23:09 CEST
WNWSSE26°Good5 min 20 secModeratemag -1.7
Thursday 23 July
22:22 CEST
WNWSE42°Very good6 min 50 secBrightmag -2.5

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

Can you see the ISS from Genoa?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Genoa 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 Genoa is on Saturday 18 July at around 21:34 CEST, when the station climbs to 24 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 Genoa

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 Genoa?
The next pass over Genoa is on Saturday 18 July at 21:29 CEST, rising in the west-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 Genoa?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Genoa 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 Genoa?
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 Genoa?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Genoa. 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 Italy

Nearby cities

Learn more