TOOL GUIDE & ORBIT EXPLAINER
Satellites Above Me: How to Read the Live Sky List
The Satellites Above Me tool answers a location-specific question: which selected catalog objects are geometrically above your horizon right now? After you set an observer position, the tool compares your coordinates with the propagated position of satellites in the automatic multi-category scan, or a category you select and reports the objects that meet your minimum elevation filter.
This is different from a simple list of satellites currently over your country. A spacecraft can be hundreds or thousands of kilometres away horizontally and still be above your geometric horizon. The useful quantities are azimuth, elevation and range from your observing position.
How to use the tool
- Set your observing location with device location or manual latitude and longitude.
- The page scans useful categories automatically. Optionally narrow the scan to Space Stations, Starlink, Weather, Amateur Radio, GPS, Galileo or Science.
- Select a minimum elevation. A higher threshold reduces low-horizon objects and returns a shorter list.
- Press Refresh whenever you want a new calculation.
- Open any result in its live tracker to inspect its map, orbit and observer geometry in more detail.
Your saved observer coordinates are stored in your browser for reuse by other SpaceTracker.live tools. You can change them whenever you want from the location controls.
Azimuth, elevation and range
Azimuth is the compass direction toward the spacecraft, measured around the horizon. Elevation is the angle above the horizon: 0° is at the geometric horizon and 90° is directly overhead. Range is the straight-line distance from the observer to the spacecraft. These values change continuously because both Earth rotation and orbital motion affect the geometry.
A high elevation does not necessarily mean that an object is bright enough to see. The tool reports geometry, not guaranteed visual visibility. Sunlight on the spacecraft, twilight, cloud cover, local light pollution, satellite size and attitude all affect whether the object can be seen with the naked eye.
Why the minimum-elevation filter matters
Objects close to the horizon are usually harder to observe. Their line of sight passes through more atmosphere, buildings and terrain are more likely to obstruct the view, and the distance to the spacecraft is often larger than during a high pass. Selecting 20°, 30° or 45° can therefore be useful when you want a shorter list of better-positioned objects.
For radio work, an elevation threshold can also help reduce very low-angle opportunities, although actual reception depends on frequency, antenna pattern, transmitter status, licensing and local conditions.
What data powers the result?
Earth-orbiting objects are propagated from current general-perturbations orbital elements using SGP4. SpaceTracker.live retrieves and caches orbital data so the browser can calculate the current spacecraft position and observer-relative geometry. The list is therefore a calculated snapshot rather than direct telemetry from the satellites.
Orbital elements have an epoch and become less representative as time passes, especially after manoeuvres. Refreshing the tool does not create new source data; it recalculates from the newest data currently available to the site.
From “above me” to a complete pass
The Above Me tool is a now-view. If you want to know when an object will rise later, use the Satellite Pass Predictions tool. If you already know the spacecraft, open its individual tracker and set your location to see the seven-day geometric pass panel. You can also browse the Satellite Directory when you want to explore objects by category.
Frequently asked questions
Does “above me” mean directly overhead?
No. It means the calculated elevation is above the selected minimum angle. Only an elevation near 90° is directly overhead.
Why does the list change quickly?
Low-Earth-orbit satellites move rapidly across the sky, so their observer-relative elevation can change significantly within minutes.
Can every listed satellite be seen?
No. This tool reports geometric position. Visibility depends on illumination, brightness, weather and local viewing conditions.
Why must I provide a location?
Azimuth and elevation are observer-relative quantities, so they cannot be calculated without latitude and longitude.
Sources and related tools
- CelesTrak: GP orbital-data formats and SGP4 context
- How SpaceTracker.live calculates satellite positions
- ISS Live Tracker
- Weather Satellite Trackers
Educational-use note: SpaceTracker.live is an independent educational website. Positions and pass predictions are calculated from third-party orbital elements or ephemerides and may be delayed or approximate. Do not use them for navigation, collision avoidance or other safety-critical decisions.