When can I see the ISS from Kraków?

The next pass over Kraków is on Friday 10 July at 21:22 CEST, rising in the southwest. 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 Kraków?

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

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 Kraków?

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

ISS Over Kraków Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Kraków, Poland will be visible to the naked eye on Friday 10 July at 21:22 CEST. It rises in the southwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 49 degrees above the horizon, a high, bright pass that is easy to spot. The pass lasts about 2 min. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Open the live pass tracker for Kraków →

Next visible ISS passes over Kraków

When (local time)	Direction	Max elevation	Visible for	Brightness
Friday 10 July 21:22 CEST	SW → ENE	49°Very good	2 min	Faintmag -0.5
Friday 10 July 22:59 CEST	W → E	70°Excellent	10 min 50 sec	Brightmag -2.8
Saturday 11 July 00:36 CEST	WNW → ESE	85°Excellent	8 min 50 sec	Very brightmag -3.2
Saturday 11 July 02:13 CEST	WNW → SE	30°Good	4 min 50 sec	Brightmag -2.2
Saturday 11 July 22:12 CEST	W → ENE	79°Excellent	10 min 51 sec	Very brightmag -3.0
Saturday 11 July 23:49 CEST	W → E	73°Excellent	8 min 40 sec	Brightmag -2.9
Sunday 12 July 01:25 CEST	WNW → SE	42°Very good	4 min 50 sec	Brightmag -2.5
Sunday 12 July 21:24 CEST	WSW → ENE	87°Excellent	5 min 50 sec	Very brightmag -3.1
Sunday 12 July 23:01 CEST	W → E	67°Excellent	9 min 30 sec	Brightmag -2.7
Monday 13 July 00:38 CEST	WNW → ESE	59°Very good	5 min 30 sec	Very brightmag -3.2
Monday 13 July 02:15 CEST	WNW → SSE	14°Low	1 min 20 sec	Faintmag 0.0
Monday 13 July 22:14 CEST	W → E	66°Excellent	10 min 40 sec	Brightmag -2.7

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

Can you see the ISS from Kraków?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Kraków 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 Kraków is on Friday 10 July at around 21:28 CEST, when the station climbs to 49 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 Kraków

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 Kraków?: The next pass over Kraków is on Friday 10 July at 21:22 CEST, rising in the southwest. 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 Kraków?: The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Kraków 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 Kraków?: 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 Kraków?: No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Kraków. 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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