When is the ISS visible?

The ISS is visible during twilight — shortly after sunset or before sunrise — when the station is in sunlight but the ground is in shadow. Passes last 1-6 minutes. Check NASA's Spot the Station or Heavens-Above for pass predictions specific to your location.

What camera settings should I use for the ISS?

For ISS trail shots, use a wide lens (14-24mm), f/2.8-4, ISO 400-800, and 15-30 second exposures. For detailed ISS photography through a telescope, you need a very fast shutter speed (1/500s or faster) and high ISO to freeze the rapid movement.

How fast does the ISS move across the sky?

The ISS orbits at about 28,000 km/h and appears to cross the sky at roughly 0.5-1° per second when overhead. A high overhead pass crosses from horizon to horizon in about 6 minutes. It is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and Moon.

Can I photograph detail on the ISS?

Yes, with a telescope (1000mm+) and video capture at high frame rates, you can resolve the solar panels and modules. The ISS has an angular size of about 0.7 arcminutes during close passes. Lucky imaging techniques (stacking the best video frames) produce the sharpest results.

PhotoCalcs

ISS Pass Calculator — Plan ISS Photography Settings

Estimate camera settings for photographing the International Space Station during visible passes.

Max Elevation

Highest point of the pass above horizon

Pass Type

Focal Length

Aperture (f-number)

How We Calculate This

The ISS orbits at approximately 420 km altitude and crosses the sky at up to 1° per second during overhead passes.

Angular speed ≈ 0.3 + 0.7 × sin(elevation) degrees/second

To freeze the ISS motion on the sensor, the maximum shutter time is calculated from the angular speed and focal length. The required ISO is then estimated based on the ISS brightness (approximately magnitude -3 to -4) and your aperture setting.

For wide-field trail shots, longer exposures are used intentionally to capture the ISS path as a bright streak across the sky.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard optical and photographic formulas. Results may vary with specific equipment.