Real-time 3D position. Visible-pass prediction from your exact location. AR sky overlay. Push alerts before bright passes. And the launch detection that flew the current crew there.
Why LaunchDetect for the ISS: a 3D Cesium globe shows the ISS's exact orbital position right now — not a 2D map approximation. Tonight's Sky predicts when bright passes happen over your house, with peak elevation and magnitude. AR Replay points your phone at the actual sky position. And LaunchDetect uniquely connects the ISS to the crew launch that put each astronaut up there.
How to use it
Live position — open launchdetect.com and the ISS is on the 3D globe instantly
Visible passes tonight — Tonight's Sky (Silver tier $4.99/mo) predicts every visible pass from your location for the next 7 days
Push before a pass — opt into "ISS bright pass" alerts; you'll get an iOS / Android notification ~15 min before a magnitude-brighter-than-Venus pass
AR replay — Gold tier ($9.99/mo): point your phone at the actual orbital trail in real time
Crew context — every ISS pass is linked to the crew launch that put each astronaut up there, with the LaunchDetect detection record
How it compares
NASA's free Spot the Station is excellent if you only care about the ISS. LaunchDetect adds the 3D globe, AR overlay, push alerts, and the rest of the satellite catalog plus rocket-launch detection. Both are good; LaunchDetect is more if you want one app for all space activity.