WhatsAbove / Cities / Virginia / Portsmouth
Live planes and satellites over Portsmouth, VA
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Portsmouth right now, centered on 36.8354, -76.2983. 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 Norfolk International Airport (ORF) only 7 miles to the northeast, Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth
Portsmouth (Virginia) has a population of about 96,201 and sits at 36.8354°N, 76.2983°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 Portsmouth?
Most identifiable traffic over Portsmouth is tied to Norfolk International Airport (ORF), 7 miles to the northeast, plus NGU (7 mi) and NTU (15 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 Portsmouth right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Portsmouth'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 36.8354, -76.2983.
Can I see the ISS from Portsmouth?
Yes. The ISS passes over Virginia several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Portsmouth is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.