ISS Over Donetsk Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Donetsk, Ukraine will be visible to the naked eye on Friday 10 July at 22:25 EEST. It rises in the west and reaches a maximum elevation of 52 degrees above the horizon, a high, bright pass that is easy to spot. The pass lasts about 10 min 47 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Donetsk

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Friday 10 July
22:25 EEST
WENE52°Very good10 min 47 secBrightmag -2.0
Saturday 11 July
00:02 EEST
WNWE48°Very good9 min 40 secModeratemag -1.9
Saturday 11 July
01:39 EEST
WNWSE60°Excellent5 min 40 secVery brightmag -3.3
Saturday 11 July
03:16 EEST
WS12°Low1 min 20 secFaintmag -0.1
Saturday 11 July
21:38 EEST
WSWENE63°Excellent10 min 50 secBrightmag -2.5
Saturday 11 July
23:15 EEST
WNWE44°Very good9 min 40 secModeratemag -1.8
Sunday 12 July
00:52 EEST
WNWESE86°Excellent5 min 30 secVery brightmag -3.3
Sunday 12 July
02:29 EEST
WNWSSE18°Fair1 min 20 secFaintmag 0.0
Sunday 12 July
22:27 EEST
WE44°Very good10 min 20 secModeratemag -1.8
Monday 13 July
00:04 EEST
WNWESE72°Excellent6 min 10 secBrightmag -2.9
Monday 13 July
01:41 EEST
WNWSE27°Good2 min 10 secFaintmag -0.3
Monday 13 July
21:40 EEST
WENE46°Very good10 min 40 secModeratemag -1.9

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

Can you see the ISS from Donetsk?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Donetsk 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 Donetsk is on Friday 10 July at around 22:31 EEST, when the station climbs to 52 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 Donetsk

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 Donetsk?
The next pass over Donetsk is on Friday 10 July at 22:25 EEST, rising in the west. 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 Donetsk?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Donetsk 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 Donetsk?
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 Donetsk?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Donetsk. 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 Ukraine

Nearby cities

Learn more