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Never Miss a Flyover: Master Satscape This Weekend You can see spaceships and satellites from your own backyard. You just need to know when to look up. Satscape is a great software tool that tracks these objects in real time. This weekend, you can learn how to use it like a pro. Follow this simple guide to start your space-watching adventure. Set Up Your Location

The software needs to know where you are on Earth. If you skip this step, the pass times will be wrong. Open the settings menu in Satscape. Type in your city or your exact latitude and longitude.

Save your location so the software can calculate accurate flyovers for your backyard. Update the Space Data

Satellites shift their paths over time. Satscape uses data files called TLEs to track them. Find the update button in the program.

Click it to download the newest satellite paths from the internet.

Do this every weekend to make sure your tracking is always correct. Pick Your Targets

Hundreds of things fly over us every day, but some are much cooler to see than others.

The International Space Station (ISS): This is the biggest spacecraft. It looks like a bright, fast-moving airplane but has no blinking lights.

Hubble Space Telescope: This famous telescope is smaller but can still be spotted on clear nights.

Weather Satellites: Watch these to see how they pass from pole to pole. Read the Passes Screen

Look at the “Predict” or “Passes” tab to see when to go outside. Pay attention to three main numbers: Time: The exact minute the satellite appears. Direction: Where to look, like North or Southwest.

Elevation: How high it will get in the sky. An elevation of 90 degrees means it will pass directly over your head. Get Ready for the Night

Go outside five minutes before the flyover starts. This gives your eyes time to adjust to the dark. Turn off your porch lights and look in the starting direction. Soon, you will see a steady point of light gliding silently across the stars.