Retained ISS orbital record
Snapshot retrieved: . Retained orbital sources: Space-Track.
| Field | Retained value |
|---|---|
| NORAD catalog ID | 25544 |
| Catalog name | ISS (ZARYA) |
| Element epoch | |
| Orbit class | LEO |
| Orbit-age check | Within orbit-age limit |
The age check describes these elements. The map also applies propagation checks and filters; this table is not a measured position, a sighting forecast or a promise that a marker will render.
One station identity
Catalog number 25544 identifies the station record. Read its supplied name and element epoch before comparing another tracker.
Separate source clocks
The element epoch, catalog retrieval time and map calculation time describe different steps. This page labels known source dates in UTC.
An estimated orbit
The globe propagates orbital elements. Its age checks, active filters and rendering budget still determine what appears.
Reference observers
The New York and Toronto guides state the observer assumptions and explain location-specific prediction fields.
Start with the station record
Use catalog number 25544 to identify the International Space Station. Read the element epoch and the time PocketWorld retrieved the retained catalog before opening the map. Those times describe the source record. The globe calculates a position for its own calculation time, so keep all three times when comparing a screenshot with another tracker.
When a retained ISS record is available, the readout uses the name and epoch supplied by that source. Missing fields remain unknown. An absent station record, an empty snapshot and an unavailable catalog have distinct messages. The guide remains available during those conditions because the source-reading instructions and official references can still help you interpret a later update.
Find the selected station on the orbit globe
The map link requests catalog record 25544 in the satellite view. Check the selected object and its source context before reading the globe. The map applies propagation validation and filters as well as an orbit-age check. A retained record that passes that check is not a universal distance-error guarantee, and its presence in this table does not prove that the device can render its marker.
Orbital elements describe a modelled path. Later element sets, spacecraft manoeuvres and a different calculation time can change a comparison. Record the catalog number and both element epochs when another tracker shows a different position. A name match alone is weaker evidence. The satellite catalog guide explains the full retained inventory and age exclusions; CelesTrak's element-set FAQ explains the source epoch fields.
Choose a US or Canadian reference observer
The New York ISS forecast and Toronto ISS forecast provide predictions for the reference-observer coordinates and altitude assumption stated on each page. Start with those observer details before reading a pass row. A city label helps find the guide; the stated reference point determines the forecast.
Read the predicted start and end times, visible duration, maximum elevation and starting direction together. Elevation is an angle above the observer's horizon; it is separate from the station's height above Earth. Keep a local-time conversion alongside the original UTC value. Local cloud, obstructions and the actual observing location affect a sighting, so a predicted opportunity is not a confirmed observation.
Compare prediction sources fairly
The city forecast tables identify N2YO as their prediction source. The N2YO documentation describes the visual-pass fields. NASA Spot the Station is an independent observing resource with location-specific information. These products can use different observer settings and update times. Compare the source, observer and time window before treating two schedules as contradictory.
For a personal observing plan, choose the actual observing location in the official resource and check the visible sky there. NASA's sighting field explanations help interpret the duration, maximum height and appearing or disappearing directions. PocketWorld's orbit-map calculation and a reference forecast answer different parts of that task.
Keep a useful record of your comparison
Save the catalog number, supplied name, element epoch, source and retrieval time, along with the map calculation time and chosen observer. Keep a screenshot's capture time separate from the source dates. This gives another reader enough context to distinguish a changed element set from an older snapshot, a display filter or a forecast for a different location.
ISS forecasts by reference observer
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Athens, Greece
- Atlanta, USA
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Austin, USA
- Bali, Indonesia
- Bangalore, India
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Barcelona, Spain
- Beijing, China
- Berlin, Germany
- Birmingham, UK
- Bogota, Colombia
- Boston, USA
- Brisbane, Australia
- Brussels, Belgium
- Budapest, Hungary
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Cairo, Egypt
- Calgary, Canada
- Cancun, Mexico
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Charlotte, USA
- Chennai, India
- Chicago, USA
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Columbus, USA
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Dallas, USA
- Delhi, India
- Denver, USA
- Detroit, USA
- Doha, Qatar
- Dubai, UAE
- Dublin, Ireland
- Dusseldorf, Germany
- Edinburgh, UK
- Florence, Italy
- Fort Worth, USA
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Glasgow, UK
- Guangzhou, China
- Hamburg, Germany
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Helsinki, Finland
- Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
- Hong Kong, China
- Honolulu, USA
- Houston, USA
- Hyderabad, India
- Indianapolis, USA
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Jacksonville, USA
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Las Vegas, USA
- Lima, Peru
- Lisbon, Portugal
- London, UK
- Los Angeles, USA
- Lyon, France
- Madrid, Spain
- Malaga, Spain
- Manchester, UK
- Manila, Philippines
- Marseille, France
- Medellin, Colombia
- Melbourne, Australia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Miami, USA
- Milan, Italy
- Minneapolis, USA
- Montreal, Canada
- Moscow, Russia
- Mumbai, India
- Munich, Germany
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Naples, Italy
- Nashville, USA
- New York, USA
- Nice, France
- Orlando, USA
- Osaka, Japan
- Oslo, Norway
- Ottawa, Canada
- Paris, France
- Perth, Australia
- Philadelphia, USA
- Phoenix, USA
- Portland, USA
- Porto, Portugal
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Rome, Italy
- San Antonio, USA
- San Diego, USA
- San Francisco, USA
- San Jose, USA
- Santiago, Chile
- Seattle, USA
- Seoul, South Korea
- Seville, Spain
- Shanghai, China
- Shenzhen, China
- Singapore, Singapore
- St. Petersburg, Russia
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Sydney, Australia
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Taipei, Taiwan
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Tokyo, Japan
- Toronto, Canada
- Vancouver, Canada
- Venice, Italy
- Vienna, Austria
- Warsaw, Poland
- Washington DC, USA
- Wellington, New Zealand
- Zurich, Switzerland
Orbital records and observing references
When source context is available, the readout identifies the retained orbital providers. The city guides label N2YO forecasts and reference observers. NASA supplies separate observing guidance; none of these labels certifies that a sighting occurred.
Frequently asked questions
Does the table show a measured live ISS position?
No. It identifies the retained orbital elements and their dates. The linked 3D globe calculates an estimated position from elements and applies further validation and display limits.
Why can the ISS row be missing?
A snapshot may be empty, incomplete or unavailable. A missing record is a catalog coverage limit; it does not establish that the station has disappeared.
Does an orbit map tell me when I will see the ISS?
Visibility requires an observer location, time window and lighting geometry. The linked US and Canada city forecasts use stated reference observers. Your horizon, weather and actual location also matter.
Which time should I compare with another tracker?
Keep the element epoch, catalog retrieval time and calculation time separately. For a sighting forecast, also compare the observer coordinates and the forecast source and update time.