WhatsAbove / Cities / Colorado / Thornton
Live planes and satellites over Thornton, CO
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Thornton right now, centered on 39.8680, -104.9719. 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 Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) only 8 miles to the west, Thornton 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 Thornton
Thornton (Colorado) has a population of about 133,451 and sits at 39.8680°N, 104.9719°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 Thornton?
Most identifiable traffic over Thornton is tied to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), 8 miles to the west, plus DEN (16 mi) and BFK (16 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 Thornton right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Thornton'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 39.8680, -104.9719.
Can I see the ISS from Thornton?
Yes. The ISS passes over Colorado several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Thornton is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.