Curious Pilot is a real-time satellite visibility simulator that shows which satellites are visible from any location on Earth.
It predicts naked-eye brightness using SGP4 orbital propagation, solar illumination geometry, and the McCants/Stellarium magnitude model.
Switch to Aircraft Mode to replay a real flight track and see what satellites were visible from the cockpit.
Ground Mode — Enter your location (or search by name), set the date/time, and press Play. Visible satellites appear as moving dots on the sky dome.
Aircraft Mode — Enter an ICAO24 hex code, date, and time window, then click Load Flight. The app replays the flight path and shows satellites visible from the aircraft.
Controls — Drag the sky to look around. Use the heading and elevation sliders for precise aiming. The magnitude filter limits which satellites are shown.
Satellite Info — Click any satellite dot for details. Use the Learn button for a reference table of all visible satellites.
About the Developer
Philip Giacalone is an aerospace engineer and software developer whose technical career has spanned spacecraft propulsion systems, autonomous drones, and Silicon Valley software startups.
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