WhatsAbove / Cities / Iowa / Des Moines
Live planes and satellites over Des Moines, IA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Des Moines right now, centered on 41.6005, -93.6091. 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 Des Moines International Airport (DSM) only 5 miles to the southwest, Des Moines 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 Des Moines
Des Moines (Iowa) has a population of about 214,133 and sits at 41.6005°N, 93.6091°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 Des Moines?
Most identifiable traffic over Des Moines is tied to Des Moines International Airport (DSM), 5 miles to the southwest, plus OTM (69 mi) and FOD (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 Des Moines right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Des Moines'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 41.6005, -93.6091.
Can I see the ISS from Des Moines?
Yes. The ISS passes over Iowa several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Des Moines is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.