WhatsAbove / Cities / Maryland / Bethesda
Live planes and satellites over Bethesda, MD
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Bethesda right now, centered on 38.9807, -77.1003. 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 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) only 10 miles to the south, Bethesda 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 Bethesda
Bethesda (Maryland) has a population of about 60,858 and sits at 38.9807°N, 77.1003°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 Bethesda?
Most identifiable traffic over Bethesda is tied to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 10 miles to the south, plus ADW (17 mi) and DAA (19 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 Bethesda right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Bethesda'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 38.9807, -77.1003.
Can I see the ISS from Bethesda?
Yes. The ISS passes over Maryland several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Bethesda is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.