WhatsAbove / Cities / California / Bakersfield
Live planes and satellites over Bakersfield, CA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Bakersfield right now, centered on 35.3733, -119.0187. Click anything for callsign, route, altitude, and more.
Tonight
Visible passes for the next 12 hours — sun-lit satellite, dark sky at your point.
Nearest major airports
With Meadows Field (BFL) only 5 miles to the northwest, Bakersfield sits directly under active approach and departure paths — expect frequent low-altitude traffic between roughly 2,000 and 8,000 ft, with the direction of flow flipping when the wind changes.
About the sky over Bakersfield
Bakersfield (California) has a population of about 373,640 and sits at 35.3733°N, 119.0187°W. Aircraft on this page come from the crowdsourced ADS-B network (coverage over metro areas like this is typically excellent); satellites are computed in your browser from published orbital elements — several hundred are above the local horizon at any moment.
What planes fly over Bakersfield?
Most identifiable traffic over Bakersfield is tied to Meadows Field (BFL), 5 miles to the northwest, plus MHV (54 mi) and WJF (63 mi). Add high-altitude cruise traffic passing over on airway routes. The live scope on this page shows each one with callsign, route, and altitude.
How many satellites are above Bakersfield right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Bakersfield's horizon at any moment — mostly Starlink, plus stations, science payloads, and decades-old relics. Open the SPACE tab on this page for the live, computed count at 35.3733, -119.0187.
Can I see the ISS from Bakersfield?
Yes. The ISS passes over California several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Bakersfield is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.