WhatsAbove / Cities / Iowa / Ames
Live planes and satellites over Ames, IA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Ames right now, centered on 42.0347, -93.6199. 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
Ames lies about 35 miles north of Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 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 Ames
Ames (Iowa) has a population of about 65,060 and sits at 42.0347°N, 93.6199°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 Ames?
Most identifiable traffic over Ames is tied to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 35 miles to the south, plus FOD (46 mi) and ALO (72 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 Ames right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Ames'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 42.0347, -93.6199.
Can I see the ISS from Ames?
Yes. The ISS passes over Iowa several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Ames is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.