WhatsAbove / Cities / North Carolina / Raleigh
Live planes and satellites over Raleigh, NC
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Raleigh right now, centered on 35.7721, -78.6386. 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 Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) only 11 miles to the northwest, Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Raleigh (North Carolina) has a population of about 482,295 and sits at 35.7721°N, 78.6386°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 Raleigh?
Most identifiable traffic over Raleigh is tied to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), 11 miles to the northwest, plus RWI (42 mi) and POB (47 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 Raleigh right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Raleigh'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 35.7721, -78.6386.
Can I see the ISS from Raleigh?
Yes. The ISS passes over North Carolina several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Raleigh is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.