WhatsAbove / Cities / Illinois / Elgin
Live planes and satellites over Elgin, IL
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Elgin right now, centered on 42.0373, -88.2812. 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 Dupage Airport (DPA) only 9 miles to the south, Elgin 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 Elgin
Elgin (Illinois) has a population of about 112,111 and sits at 42.0373°N, 88.2812°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 Elgin?
Most identifiable traffic over Elgin is tied to Dupage Airport (DPA), 9 miles to the south, plus ORD (20 mi) and PWK (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 Elgin right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Elgin'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 42.0373, -88.2812.
Can I see the ISS from Elgin?
Yes. The ISS passes over Illinois several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Elgin is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.