What you’re looking at
Every dot is a plane in the air right now, colored by altitude, on satellite imagery or a 3D globe (switch at the top right). Zoom in and the dots turn into little planes pointing the way each one is flying. Move any spot into the ring to list the planes overhead there, tap any plane for its details and route (solid line where it’s been, dashed line where it’s going), or press Follow to ride along with it.
Positions come from the OpenSky Network, a nonprofit that collects the signals planes broadcast through thousands of volunteer receivers. A fresh snapshot arrives every few minutes; in between, the page moves each plane along its last known heading and speed, so positions are estimates. Planes only show up where there are receivers nearby, so the middle of the oceans and parts of Africa and Asia look emptier than they really are, and some military and private aircraft aren’t shown. Not for navigation or safety.
More globes: Air, Headlines and Unrest.