Find the ISS With NASA’s App: Using AR View
NASA’s Spot the Station AR View can help you aim your phone toward the ISS during a listed visible pass. Start with a sighting for your viewing location: an on-screen marker alone does not mean you can see the station. Prepare the phone and check the sky before relying on its overlay.
By LookToSpace · Sources and editorial process
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Choose a visible pass before opening AR
If you want to see the space station tonight, first select where you will actually watch. NASA’s app lists sighting times in the selected location’s local time zone. Check the start time, duration, maximum height and the directions where the station appears and disappears.
NASA’s spotting page explains that maximum height is elevation above the horizon: zero degrees is the horizon and 90 degrees is directly overhead. Use the appearance direction and height to identify the part of the sky you need to see from your standing position. Source: https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/
Checklist: prepare the phone and viewing spot
Check 1: Select your viewing location and review its local sighting time and directions. Choose an open area where buildings and trees will not block that view.
Check 2: Confirm AR support. NASA specifies ARKit for iOS or ARCore for Android, plus hardware that determines the device’s orientation in three dimensions. Some older or budget devices cannot support this feature.
Check 3: Enable the app’s location services and camera permissions. Check cellular service or internet access where you plan to watch. Previously downloaded schedules may work offline, but NASA says real-time tracking needs a connection.
Check 4: Follow NASA’s May 2025 FAQ instructions: open Spot the Station, select AR View in the bottom menu, then follow the screen prompts to aim the camera at the sky. The overlay indicates the station’s position and path as you move the device. Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/spot-the-station-frequently-asked-questions/
Use the overlay as guidance
Hypothetical example: you open AR View during daylight and see a station marker against the sky. That is a virtual position indicator, not evidence of a naked-eye sighting. NASA says the overlay works in daylight, while the station is not bright enough to see during the day. Return to the listed visible opportunity when planning your watch.
GPS position, compass calibration and device sensors affect the overlay’s accuracy. If its direction seems wrong, NASA recommends recalibrating the compass through settings. Treat alignment as guidance rather than a promise of an exact match.
At the listed opportunity, use the phone to locate the relevant sky, then look for the station itself. NASA describes it as a bright, steadily moving point without flashing lights. An overlay cannot remove an obstruction or guarantee a sighting; its practical value is helping you know where to look.