Track the ISS Position

The International Space Station orbits Earth every 90 minutes at 28,000 km/h. Knowing its current position is useful for spotting it with the naked eye, for educational demonstrations, and for understanding orbital mechanics with a real, tangible example.

The iss_position skill returns the current latitude, longitude, and altitude of the ISS in real time. This data tells you exactly where over Earth the station is right now and when it might be visible from your location.

Astronomy enthusiasts use this to time their viewing sessions. Teachers use it as a live demonstration of orbital mechanics -- students can see the station's position update in real time and track its path across the globe. App developers use it for ISS tracker applications. Photographers use it to plan when the station will pass over their location for long-exposure shots.