WhatsAbove / Cities / California / Modesto
Live planes and satellites over Modesto, CA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Modesto right now, centered on 37.6391, -120.9969. 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 Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field (MOD) only 3 miles to the east, Modesto 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 Modesto
Modesto (California) has a population of about 211,266 and sits at 37.6391°N, 120.9969°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 Modesto?
Most identifiable traffic over Modesto is tied to Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field (MOD), 3 miles to the east, plus SCK (22 mi) and MER (30 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 Modesto right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Modesto'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 37.6391, -120.9969.
Can I see the ISS from Modesto?
Yes. The ISS passes over California several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Modesto is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.