---
id: pyorbital
version: "1.12.1"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyorbital — Scheduling satellite passes in Python

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 89.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Pyorbital is a Python library for orbital mechanics and satellite scheduling, built around parsing and computing orbital parameters from TLE (Two-Line Element) files. It handles the mathematical core of satellite pass prediction—determining when and where a satellite will be visible from a given location—and provides general astronomical calculations. The package is part of the Pytroll project and is designed for researchers and engineers working with satellite data.

The library depends on numpy and scipy for numerical computation, pyproj for geographic coordinate transformations, and requests for data retrieval. It targets Python 3.10 and later and is classified as production-stable. With no known security vulnerabilities and a permissive Apache-2.0 license, it is suitable for both research and operational satellite tracking applications.

Use it for:

- Schedule satellite observation windows by computing pass times and visibility windows for a given ground location.
- Parse and validate TLE data to extract current orbital elements for satellite tracking applications.
- Calculate satellite position (longitude, latitude, altitude) at any given UTC time for mission planning.
- Integrate satellite pass prediction into Earth observation or remote sensing workflows.
- Build satellite scheduling tools for ground station operations or data collection campaigns.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Pyorbital computes orbital parameters from TLE (Two-Line Element) files and performs astronomical calculations for satellite scheduling and pass prediction.

Yes. Pyorbital is a stable, actively maintained library with low install friction and no security vulnerabilities. It fills a specific niche in satellite orbital mechanics with a permissive license. Install it if you need TLE parsing, satellite pass prediction, or orbital position calculations; skip it if your work does not involve satellite scheduling or tracking.

## Install

pip install pyorbital
uv add pyorbital
poetry add pyorbital

## Installing pyorbital

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure Python wheel distribution. Active maintenance status with a recent release (162 days ago). Depends on established scientific libraries (numpy, scipy, pyproj) and standard utilities (requests, defusedxml, donfig).

License in practice: Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must retain license notices but face no copyleft obligations.

Quickstart:

pip install pyorbital

from pyorbital.orbital import Orbital

orb = Orbital('ISS (ZARYA)', line1=tle_line1, line2=tle_line2)
lon, lat, alt = orb.get_lonlatalt(utc_time)

Requires Python 3.10 or later; TLE data (Two-Line Element sets) must be provided or obtained separately.

Verify before relying:

- Specific astronomical computation capabilities beyond TLE parsing and satellite pass prediction.
- Integration points with the broader Pytroll project ecosystem and whether those are required for typical use.

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 89.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

satellite pass prediction, TLE orbital calculations, astronomical computations, satellite scheduling python, orbital mechanics library, satellite pass times, two-line element parsing, satellite-tracking, orbital-mechanics, astronomy

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