WhatsAbove / Cities / Wisconsin / Madison
Live planes and satellites over Madison, WI
The scope below is live: every trackable aircraft and satellite above Madison right now, centered on 43.0731, -89.4012. 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 Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN) only 6 miles to the northeast, Madison 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 Madison
Madison (Wisconsin) has a population of about 280,305 and sits at 43.0731°N, 89.4012°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 Madison?
Most identifiable traffic over Madison is tied to Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN), 6 miles to the northeast, plus RFD (63 mi) and VOK (74 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 Madison right now?
Several hundred cataloged objects are above Madison'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 43.0731, -89.4012.
Can I see the ISS from Madison?
Yes. The ISS passes over Wisconsin several times most weeks; visible passes happen when the station is sunlit while the sky over Madison is dark — typically 1–3 hours after sunset or before sunrise. The Tonight panel on this page computes exact times, directions, and durations.