WhatsAbove / Cities / Iowa / Ankeny
Live planes and satellites over Ankeny, IA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Ankeny right now, centered on 41.7297, -93.6058. 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
Ankeny lies about 14 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 Ankeny
Ankeny (Iowa) has a population of about 56,764 and sits at 41.7297°N, 93.6058°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 Ankeny?
Most identifiable traffic over Ankeny is tied to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 14 miles to the south, plus FOD (64 mi) and OTM (74 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 Ankeny right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Ankeny'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 41.7297, -93.6058.
Can I see the ISS from Ankeny?
Yes. The ISS passes over Iowa several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Ankeny is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.