ISS Over Donetsk Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Donetsk, Ukraine will be visible to the naked eye on Saturday 27 June at 01:27 EEST. It rises in the south-southwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 22 degrees above the horizon, a lower pass that may be partly blocked by buildings or trees. The pass lasts about 4 min 40 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
Saturday 27 June
01:27 EEST
SSWENE22°Fair4 min 40 secModeratemag -1.5
Saturday 27 June
03:03 EEST
WSWENE82°Excellent8 min 30 secVery brightmag -3.2
Sunday 28 June
00:40 EEST
SSWENE15°Low3 minFaintmag -0.4
Sunday 28 June
02:16 EEST
WSWENE73°Excellent7 minVery brightmag -3.3
Monday 29 June
01:28 EEST
SWENE49°Very good5 min 40 secVery brightmag -3.0
Monday 29 June
03:05 EEST
WENE52°Very good9 min 30 secBrightmag -2.4
Tuesday 30 June
00:40 EEST
SWENE32°Good4 min 10 secModeratemag -1.7
Tuesday 30 June
02:17 EEST
WSWENE64°Excellent8 minBrightmag -2.7
Tuesday 30 June
23:53 EEST
SSWENE22°Fair2 min 40 secFaintmag -0.5
Wednesday 1 July
01:29 EEST
WSWENE83°Excellent6 min 40 secVery brightmag -3.2
Wednesday 1 July
03:06 EEST
WE43°Very good10 min 40 secModeratemag -1.9
Wednesday 1 July
23:05 EEST
SSWENE14°Low1 min 20 secFaintmag 0.1

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 Saturday 27 June at around 01:32 EEST, when the station climbs to 22 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 Saturday 27 June at 01:27 EEST, rising in the south-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 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.

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