ISS Over Turin Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Turin, Italy will be visible to the naked eye on Tuesday 21 July at 22:20 CEST. It rises in the west-northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 78 degrees above the horizon, a near-overhead pass that will be very bright. The pass lasts about 7 min 50 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Turin

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Tuesday 21 July
22:20 CEST
WNWESE78°Excellent7 min 50 secVery brightmag -3.2
Tuesday 21 July
23:57 CEST
WNWSSE17°Fair3 min 40 secFaintmag -0.6
Wednesday 22 July
23:09 CEST
WNWSSE27°Good5 min 30 secModeratemag -1.8
Thursday 23 July
22:21 CEST
WNWSE42°Very good7 min 20 secBrightmag -2.5
Friday 24 July
21:34 CEST
WNWSE69°Excellent3 min 10 secVery brightmag -3.0
Friday 24 July
23:11 CEST
WNWS10°Low4 min 40 secFaintmag -0.5
Saturday 25 July
22:23 CEST
WNWSSE17°Fair6 min 50 secModeratemag -1.0
Sunday 26 July
21:36 CEST
WNWSSE27°Good7 min 10 secModeratemag -1.6
Tuesday 28 July
21:38 CEST
WNWS10°Low8 min 30 secFaintmag -0.2

Showing the next 9 naked-eye visible passes over Turin, in local time (Europe/Rome). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Turin?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Turin 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 Turin is on Tuesday 21 July at around 22:25 CEST, when the station climbs to 78 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 Turin

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 Turin?
The next pass over Turin is on Tuesday 21 July at 22:20 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 Turin?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Turin 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 Turin?
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 Turin?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Turin. 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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