When can I see the ISS from San Francisco?

When it passes in sunlight while the sky over San Francisco is dark: in the two hours after sunset or before sunrise, in series that last one to two weeks. This page lists the next passes, computed as it opens.

Can you see the ISS with the naked eye from San Francisco?

Yes. On a good pass it is brighter than any star: a steady light crossing the sky in a few minutes. No telescope or binoculars are needed.

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The ISS over your city

When to see the ISS over San Francisco

At 37.8° N, San Francisco sits under the track of the ISS: on its best passes the station climbs close to the zenith. Visible passes come in series of one to two weeks, every month or two, when its orbit lines up with dusk or dawn. The passes below are computed for 37.7749° N, 122.4194° W, 16 m above sea level.

Open in the predictor About the ISS

Next passes over San Francisco

Computing the next passes over San Francisco…

Questions

When can I see the ISS from San Francisco?: When it passes in sunlight while the sky over San Francisco is dark: in the two hours after sunset or before sunrise, in series that last one to two weeks. This page lists the next passes, computed as it opens.
Can you see the ISS with the naked eye from San Francisco?: Yes. On a good pass it is brighter than any star: a steady light crossing the sky in a few minutes. No telescope or binoculars are needed.