Real Time Solar System.

Visible passes

The ISS over Luxor

Next visible pass 11 October 2026 at 05:42, 16° up in the SE.

The station is bright enough to be unmistakable — brighter than any star, moving steadily, never blinking. It crosses Luxor 5.2 times a day on average, but you can only see it when three things line up at once: it is above your horizon, it is still in sunlight up at 420 km, and the sky down here has already gone dark. That is why sightings cluster in the couple of hours after dusk and before dawn.

4 visible passes in the next five days, out of 26 that go over at all.

11 October 2026

NESW
Appears
05:42 · 0° up in the S
Highest
16° in the SE
Disappears
05:52 · 1° up in the ENE
Visible for
9m 08s
Brightness
magnitude 0.7
Closest
1207 km

13 October 2026

NESW
Appears
05:46 · 12° up in the SSW
Highest
70° in the SE
Disappears
05:55 · -1° up in the NE
Visible for
8m 57s
Brightness
magnitude -2.7
Closest
450 km

14 October 2026

NESW
Appears
05:02 · 31° up in the SE
Highest
31° in the SE
Disappears
05:08 · -1° up in the NE
Visible for
5m 32s
Brightness
magnitude -1.1
Closest
753 km

It does not rise into view — it switches on 31° above the horizon, which is the station coming out of Earth's shadow already well up in your sky. Be looking before then.

15 October 2026

NESW
Appears
05:51 · 24° up in the WNW
Highest
26° in the NW
Disappears
05:57 · -1° up in the NNE
Visible for
6m 21s
Brightness
magnitude -2.0
Closest
865 km

It does not rise into view — it switches on 24° above the horizon, which is the station coming out of Earth's shadow already well up in your sky. Be looking before then.

How to watch

No equipment. Be outside a couple of minutes early, look towards the direction given above, and wait for a steady white point to climb out of the horizon. It moves about as fast as a high aircraft but shows no flashing lights and makes no sound. A pass takes a few minutes from edge to edge.

Passes below 10° are left out: at that height the station is behind whatever buildings and trees you actually have, and there is enough air in the way to dim it well below the brightness quoted here.

Computed with SGP4 from orbital elements issued 11 hours ago by CelesTrak, refreshed every hour. Element sets decay, and the station manoeuvres — times more than a few days out will shift. Also see what else is visible tonight from Luxor.

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