WhatsAbove / Cities / Illinois / Chicago
Live planes and satellites over Chicago, IL
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Chicago right now, centered on 41.8500, -87.6500. 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 Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) only 7 miles to the southwest, Chicago 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 Chicago
Chicago (Illinois) has a population of about 2,664,452 and sits at 41.8500°N, 87.6500°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 Chicago?
Most identifiable traffic over Chicago is tied to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), 7 miles to the southwest, plus ORD (16 mi) and GYY (20 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 Chicago right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Chicago'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 41.8500, -87.6500.
Can I see the ISS from Chicago?
Yes. The ISS passes over Illinois several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Chicago is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.