WhatsAbove / Cities / District of Columbia / Downtown DC
Live planes and satellites over Downtown DC, DC
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Downtown DC right now, centered on 38.8935, -77.0199. 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) only 3 miles to the south, Downtown DC 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 Downtown DC
Downtown DC (District of Columbia) has a population of about 52,560 and sits at 38.8935°N, 77.0199°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 Downtown DC?
Most identifiable traffic over Downtown DC is tied to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 3 miles to the south, plus ADW (10 mi) and DAA (15 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 Downtown DC right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Downtown DC'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 38.8935, -77.0199.
Can I see the ISS from Downtown DC?
Yes. The ISS passes over District of Columbia several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Downtown DC is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.