WhatsAbove / Cities / Illinois / Evanston
Live planes and satellites over Evanston, IL
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Evanston right now, centered on 42.0411, -87.6901. 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 O'Hare International Airport (ORD) only 12 miles to the west, Evanston 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 Evanston
Evanston (Illinois) has a population of about 75,527 and sits at 42.0411°N, 87.6901°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 Evanston?
Most identifiable traffic over Evanston is tied to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 12 miles to the west, plus PWK (12 mi) and MDW (18 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 Evanston right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Evanston'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 42.0411, -87.6901.
Can I see the ISS from Evanston?
Yes. The ISS passes over Illinois several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Evanston is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.