Sightings

See the ISS over Copenhagen

The International Space Station makes 12 visible passes over Copenhagen in the next few nights. Each one is a bright, fast-moving point of light crossing the sky in a matter of minutes — no telescope needed. Times below are in Copenhagen's local clock.

Sun 28 Jun 02:52
Visible
5m 30s
Max height
20°
Brightness
−0.9 moderate
Appears → Leaves
SSW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Mon 29 Jun 02:05
Visible
4m
Max height
15°
Brightness
−0.6 moderate
Appears → Leaves
S → ESE
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Tue 30 Jun 01:18
Visible
2m 30s
Max height
11°
Brightness
−0.1 moderate
Appears → Leaves
SSE → ESE
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Tue 30 Jun 02:53
Visible
6m
Max height
30°
Brightness
−1.5 bright
Appears → Leaves
SW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Wed 1 Jul 02:05
Visible
5m 30s
Max height
25°
Brightness
−1.3 moderate
Appears → Leaves
SSW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Thu 2 Jul 01:18
Visible
5m
Max height
20°
Brightness
−1.1 moderate
Appears → Leaves
SSW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Thu 2 Jul 02:53
Visible
6m 30s
Max height
39°
Brightness
−1.9 bright
Appears → Leaves
WSW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Fri 3 Jul 00:30
Visible
4m 30s
Max height
15°
Brightness
−0.7 moderate
Appears → Leaves
S → ESE
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Fri 3 Jul 02:05
Visible
6m 30s
Max height
35°
Brightness
−1.8 bright
Appears → Leaves
SW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Fri 3 Jul 23:44
Visible
2m
Max height
11°
Brightness
−0.3 moderate
Appears → Leaves
SSE → ESE
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Sat 4 Jul 01:18
Visible
6m
Max height
30°
Brightness
−1.7 bright
Appears → Leaves
SW → E
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station
Sat 4 Jul 02:54
Visible
6m 30s
Max height
41°
Brightness
−2.0 bright
Appears → Leaves
WSW → ESE
60° 30° NESW rise
Where to look — the arc across your sky
Ground track — the path beneath the Station

How to read this

  • Max height — how high the ISS climbs above the horizon at its peak, in degrees (90° is straight overhead). Higher passes are brighter and easier to spot.
  • Brightness — apparent magnitude; lower (more negative) is brighter. At its best the ISS outshines every star.
  • Appears → Leaves — the compass direction it rises from and sets toward. The station always tracks roughly west-to-east.

Want the underlying mechanics? Read how to spot the ISS, why passes only happen at dawn and dusk, and how the station's brightness is worked out.

Frequently asked

When is the ISS visible from Copenhagen?

The next visible pass over Copenhagen is on Sun 28 Jun at 02:52 local time, climbing to 20° above the horizon. The station is only visible when it is sunlit and your sky is dark — around dawn and dusk — so favourable windows come in clusters of a few days, then disappear for a week or two as the orbit drifts.

Which direction should I look to see the ISS from Copenhagen?

For the next pass, look toward the SSW as it rises and follow it across to the E. The ISS always travels roughly west-to-east and crosses in two to six minutes — no telescope needed, it looks like a bright, steady star moving steadily across the sky.

How bright does the ISS get over Copenhagen?

At its best in this window the station reaches magnitude −2.0 (bright) — bright enough to outshine every star and most planets. The higher it climbs and the closer it passes to overhead, the brighter it appears.

Are these ISS pass times accurate?

Yes — they are computed from the latest published orbital element set (TLE) using the standard SGP4 model, the same maths professional tracking tools use. Times are shown in Copenhagen's local clock and refreshed continuously as a newer element set is published. For a live sky view and a phone-pointing AR mode, use the tracker on the home page.

Coordinates 55.68°N, 12.57°E · orbital data updated · computed with the SGP4 model.