Spot the Station

Name: Spot the Station
Rating: 4.8 (9347 reviews)
Author: NASA

See The Space Station Overhead

Free

9.3K Ratings
Age Rating

4+
Years
Category

Education
Developer

NASA
Language

EN
+ 13 More
Size

89
MB

For anyone who has ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered about the mysteries of the universe, witnessing the International Space Station pass overhead can be an awe-inspiring moment. The Spot the Station mobile app is designed to notify users when the space station is visible overhead from their location. It aims to broaden access and awareness of the station and NASA globally, by providing users with an opportunity to experience the wonder of the space station firsthand. The realization that there are human beings living and working in that tiny dot, orbiting the Earth at a mind-boggling speed of 17,500 miles per hour, is breathtaking. The app includes several helpful features including: 1. 2D & 3D real-time location views of the station 2. Upcoming Sighting Lists with visibility data 3. Augmented Reality (AR) view with compass and trajectory lines embedded into the camera view 4. Up-to-date NASA space station Resources & Blog 5. Privacy Settings 6. Push Notifications when the station is approaching your location.

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

out of 5

9.3K Ratings

Very good app!
Jul 8
PowerUp5
I really like the simplicity of how the map works. The best part is that there's a mode where if you have your camera up to the sky it will show the exact path the ISS will go when it passes. The notifications are great, and I love the tidbits about the ISS that make this app great! Even if it doesn't pass over me, it's still cool to see where it is always. With it I saw it twice and both times were so cool! Even if it did pass and either it was covered by clouds or the earth's shadow, it was still cool it know it passed over me! Sometimes the time can be off though. Like one time it said it would pass over in 15 minutes, then it said an hour.
Very good app!
Jul 8
PowerUp5

I really like the simplicity of how the map works. The best part is that there's a mode where if you have your camera up to the sky it will show the exact path the ISS will go when it passes. The notifications are great, and I love the tidbits about the ISS that make this app great! Even if it doesn't pass over me, it's still cool to see where it is always. With it I saw it twice and both times were so cool! Even if it did pass and either it was covered by clouds or the earth's shadow, it was still cool it know it passed over me! Sometimes the time can be off though. Like one time it said it would pass over in 15 minutes, then it said an hour.
Dumbest idea ever to force an app on people
08/12/2025
Zildjiancat
The text/email notifications were 24 hrs in advance, allowing everyone plenty of time to set aside the few minutes they’d get to see the astronauts zipping by overhead right in front of them. Now the cumbersome app has taken place, and it’s not so great. Doesn’t provide advance notice for when the ISS will be in a person’s neighborhood, right overhead. That is truly special, being able to run outside, look up, and see them. Especially for those of us who waited all day to watch Armstrong and Aldrin actually walk on the moon right in our own living rooms. This is the modern version of that, sharing the astronaut experience from our own homes. And now, that has been taken away. Please consider keeping both available. The app has some good stuff, but it’s nothing like being notified by NASA and being able to plan time to see them fly right over your back yard. It’s especially fun for kids, and why wouldn’t NASA want to get kids interested in space exploration, too??? Please consider bringing back the text/email option you tossed last May. Apparently the app can only see what’s right in front of it at any given second, rendering any planning by mere mortals to witness the real thing flying overhead. So sad.

Developer Response
Thank you for your suggestion. The Notification Settings in the app do provide the option to set a first notification (default: 15 minutes) for up to 48 hours before each sighting.We are committed to continuous improvement and embrace the opportunity to evolve our app in ways that resonate with our users. Stay tuned for updates on our progress, and once again, thank you for your constructive and forward-thinking contribution.For direct support or to provide more insights, feel free to reach out to SpotTheStation@hq.nasa.gov.
Dumbest idea ever to force an app on people
08/12/2025
Zildjiancat

The text/email notifications were 24 hrs in advance, allowing everyone plenty of time to set aside the few minutes they’d get to see the astronauts zipping by overhead right in front of them. Now the cumbersome app has taken place, and it’s not so great. Doesn’t provide advance notice for when the ISS will be in a person’s neighborhood, right overhead. That is truly special, being able to run outside, look up, and see them. Especially for those of us who waited all day to watch Armstrong and Aldrin actually walk on the moon right in our own living rooms. This is the modern version of that, sharing the astronaut experience from our own homes. And now, that has been taken away. Please consider keeping both available. The app has some good stuff, but it’s nothing like being notified by NASA and being able to plan time to see them fly right over your back yard. It’s especially fun for kids, and why wouldn’t NASA want to get kids interested in space exploration, too??? Please consider bringing back the text/email option you tossed last May. Apparently the app can only see what’s right in front of it at any given second, rendering any planning by mere mortals to witness the real thing flying overhead. So sad.
Developer Response 10/22/2025
Thank you for your suggestion. The Notification Settings in the app do provide the option to set a first notification (default: 15 minutes) for up to 48 hours before each sighting.We are committed to continuous improvement and embrace the opportunity to evolve our app in ways that resonate with our users. Stay tuned for updates on our progress, and once again, thank you for your constructive and forward-thinking contribution.For direct support or to provide more insights, feel free to reach out to SpotTheStation@hq.nasa.gov.
ISS App: Update is a downgrade
Jan 15
G’Lon Sharp
In the prior version, Spot the Station, I could easily scroll the observation opportunities, but now, while the graphics are cool, the actual ability to view the viewing opportunities and just navigate around (UI) is just awful. It’s like a car with new tires, paint, and engine, but inside, the controls are frustrating. I stopped using the app and thus dont look to spot the station any longer. With my mind on space at the moment, SpaceX Crew 11 is about to return home, I decided to open the ISS app, and was reminded how bad it is, and only now decided to write a review. As a UCLA educated EE, with a consulting business tag line of Refining Innovation, I can assure you it has not been refined. It is unfortunate, as I enjoyed keeping up on its movements. When it was to be a good showing, I’d head down to the Manhattan Beach Pier to share the upcoming sighting with people and it was easy to do so. Now, there’s no way to easy share the information necessary for viewing it. I would be completely surprised if your viewing stats have gone up with the app, as opposed to just looking up Spot the Station. Let me know if you’d like to meet on Zoom, and I could really show you in detail the issues.

Developer Response
Thank you for your valuable feedback. If you have increased the font size from your phone's settings, you may not be able to see and scroll the entireUpcoming Sightings list. Please reduce the font size from your phone settings. For direct support or to provide more insights, feel free to reach out to SpotTheStation@hq.nasa.gov. Thank you for your patience as we work to enhance your app experience.
ISS App: Update is a downgrade
Jan 15
G’Lon Sharp

In the prior version, Spot the Station, I could easily scroll the observation opportunities, but now, while the graphics are cool, the actual ability to view the viewing opportunities and just navigate around (UI) is just awful. It’s like a car with new tires, paint, and engine, but inside, the controls are frustrating. I stopped using the app and thus dont look to spot the station any longer. With my mind on space at the moment, SpaceX Crew 11 is about to return home, I decided to open the ISS app, and was reminded how bad it is, and only now decided to write a review. As a UCLA educated EE, with a consulting business tag line of Refining Innovation, I can assure you it has not been refined. It is unfortunate, as I enjoyed keeping up on its movements. When it was to be a good showing, I’d head down to the Manhattan Beach Pier to share the upcoming sighting with people and it was easy to do so. Now, there’s no way to easy share the information necessary for viewing it. I would be completely surprised if your viewing stats have gone up with the app, as opposed to just looking up Spot the Station. Let me know if you’d like to meet on Zoom, and I could really show you in detail the issues.
Developer Response Feb 25
Thank you for your valuable feedback. If you have increased the font size from your phone's settings, you may not be able to see and scroll the entireUpcoming Sightings list. Please reduce the font size from your phone settings. For direct support or to provide more insights, feel free to reach out to SpotTheStation@hq.nasa.gov. Thank you for your patience as we work to enhance your app experience.
Fabulous
08/23/2025
Gran of 2 boys, 2 girls
I’ve been watching the space station for several years. When I two sons and their families were visiting years ago, possibly in 2008, I mentioned that the station was coming over later and my oldest son was really skeptical. However, when I went out on the deck, they all came out and marveled at the fact that you could actually cross the sky. It never fails to thrill me just to see them, and know they are so far above the Earth.I will watch them until my dying day.

Developer Response
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with spotting the station through the app! We're delighted to have played a part in your journey to explore the wonders of space. Please invite your friends and family to install and use this free app so that they can also enjoy it.
Fabulous
08/23/2025
Gran of 2 boys, 2 girls

I’ve been watching the space station for several years. When I two sons and their families were visiting years ago, possibly in 2008, I mentioned that the station was coming over later and my oldest son was really skeptical. However, when I went out on the deck, they all came out and marveled at the fact that you could actually cross the sky. It never fails to thrill me just to see them, and know they are so far above the Earth.I will watch them until my dying day.
Developer Response 10/22/2025
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with spotting the station through the app! We're delighted to have played a part in your journey to explore the wonders of space. Please invite your friends and family to install and use this free app so that they can also enjoy it.

* Fixed an issue with the station trajectory lines on 3D maps and AR View: the algorithm is now better handling cases when trajectory points are not evenly distributed in NASA files, during orbit raising maneuvers or dockings. * Updated the algorithm for calculating the upcoming sighting opportunities, so that the minimum height above horizon is changed from 10 to 5 degrees to include more sightings. Users can still filter the upcoming sightings according to the Max Height dropdown menu (default > 5) on the Upcoming Sightings page, accessible from the Home page. * Modified default entry to the AR View page to not be in full-screen mode, added the station direction circle in default window mode, changed full-screen toggle icon to be more intuitive. * Changed the Past Sightings page so that the past sightings list are sorted with the most recent sightings at the top of the list and the oldest sightings at the bottom of the page. * Updated the answers to some of the questions and added search functionality to the Frequently Asked Questions page under Resources. * Updated the Tutorial for the Home page according to the latest UI changes. * Modified the Contact Us page to encourage users to include a description of the issue, along with the selected location and date+time of the station sighting opportunity, so that our support team can better reproduce and diagnose reported issues. * Fixed a bug with the camera-access safety reminder popup window on the AR View page that was not allowing scroll-down to dismiss. * Updated third-party libraries to patch security vulnerabilities and improve overall app safety. * Other bug fixes and third-party software maintenance updates.

Version 1.10.0 Jul 2

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:
- Location
- User Content
- Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Accessibility

Information

Seller: NASA
Size: 89 MB
Category: Education
Compatibility: Requires iOS 15.1 or later.

iPhone
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.

iPad
Requires iPadOS 15.1 or later.

iPod touch
Requires iOS 15.1 or later.
Languages: English and 13 more

English, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian
Age Rating: 4+

4+

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