International Space Station Tracker

When can you see the ISS over Elgin?

See where the International Space Station (ISS) is now and when it will next cross the sky over Elgin, Illinois, United States.

Or click anywhere on the map below to manually choose an observing point.

What counts as a visible pass?

The station must be at least 10° above the horizon, illuminated by the Sun, and passing over a sky dark enough for viewing. Times use your city’s local timezone.

Visible passes over Elgin in the next 72 hours

4

Next visible pass

Observing location time

–

Visible for

4 min 55 sec

Cloud cover

0%

  1. Appears

    west-southwest 258°

  2. Highest point

    Elevation 43.3°

  3. Disappears

    north-northeast 32.7°

Select “Where to look” to explore the pass in 3D. Drag the time slider to see where to look at any point in the pass.

Observing location time

–

Visible for
6 min 35 sec
Cloud cover
98%
  1. Appears

    west-southwest 243.1°

  2. Highest point

    Elevation 68.5°

  3. Disappears

    northeast 51.6°

Select “Where to look” to explore the pass in 3D. Drag the time slider to see where to look at any point in the pass.

Observing location time

–

Visible for
1 min 55 sec
Cloud cover
31%
  1. Appears

    west-northwest 297.3°

  2. Highest point

    Elevation 18.6°

  3. Disappears

    north-northwest 331.2°

Select “Where to look” to explore the pass in 3D. Drag the time slider to see where to look at any point in the pass.

Observing location time

–

Visible for
4 min 15 sec
Cloud cover
73%
  1. Appears

    west-northwest 285.1°

  2. Highest point

    Elevation 23.7°

  3. Disappears

    north-northeast 19.5°

Select “Where to look” to explore the pass in 3D. Drag the time slider to see where to look at any point in the pass.

Forecast updated:

Observing location time: America/Chicago

Pass predictions may change after an orbital manoeuvre.

ISS passes near this city

Live ISS position and visible pass forecast for Elgin, United States, with local times, directions, elevation and cloud cover.

Common questions about seeing the ISS in Elgin

When is the next visible ISS pass over Elgin?

The forecast on this page lists visible passes for the next 72 hours in Elgin’s local timezone, including start, peak, end, direction and elevation.

Can I see the ISS from Elgin without a telescope?

Yes. During a visible pass it looks like a bright, steady star moving quickly across the sky above Elgin.

Why isn’t every overhead pass listed for Elgin?

A pass is only listed when the ISS is sunlit while the sky over Elgin is dark enough, and the station is at least 10° above the horizon.

Does weather affect viewing the ISS from Elgin?

Yes. Cloud cover in the forecast helps you judge whether the sky will be clear enough during a pass over Elgin.

Data sources

Orbit data from CelesTrak using U.S. Space Force GP elements.

Weather forecast data from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0).

Orbit epoch: Nov 15, 2026, 8:02:34 AM UTC

What counts as a visible pass?

This forecast uses Elgin's coordinates and local timezone to calculate when the ISS is sunlit, at least 10 degrees above the horizon and crossing a dark enough sky.

Viewing location

42.0373°, -88.2812° · America/Chicago