WhatsAbove / Cities / California / Novato
Live planes and satellites over Novato, CA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Novato right now, centered on 38.1074, -122.5697. 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
Novato lies about 29 miles west of Buchanan Field (CCR), which puts it under arrival sequencing and climb-out corridors — most identifiable traffic crosses between 4,000 and 15,000 ft, descending toward or climbing away from the field.
About the sky over Novato
Novato (California) has a population of about 55,530 and sits at 38.1074°N, 122.5697°W. Aircraft on this page come from the crowdsourced ADS-B network (coverage over this area depends on volunteer receivers nearby); satellites are computed in your browser from published orbital elements — several hundred are above the local horizon at any moment.
What planes fly over Novato?
Most identifiable traffic over Novato is tied to Buchanan Field (CCR), 29 miles to the east, plus STS (31 mi) and OAK (33 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 Novato right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Novato'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 38.1074, -122.5697.
Can I see the ISS from Novato?
Yes. The ISS passes over California several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Novato is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.