OrbitalWiki vs N2YO
A satellite tracking site with a small free API aimed at pass predictions: where a satellite is now, and when it next flies over you.
Side by side with N2YO
| Feature | OrbitalWiki | N2YO |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | OrbitalWiki | N2YO.com |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Machine-readable API | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk download | Yes | No |
| Free limit | No key needed to read; 1,000 requests a day with a free key | Per endpoint per hour: 1,000 element sets or positions, 100 pass predictions |
| Data terms | ODbL-1.0, attribution required | No licence stated; free key, do not work around the caps |
| Per-field source shown | Yes | No |
Provider documentation checked 2026-08-03.
When to use N2YO instead
When you want to know where a satellite is right now, or when it will pass over a location. This catalog describes objects; N2YO’s position and visual-pass endpoints do that tracking job directly.
Go to N2YOWhen this catalog helps
When you need the catalog behind the tracker: bulk access, operator attribution across 843 operators, and a record of which upstream source each field came from. The N2YO API is per-satellite and hourly-capped, so it is not built for scanning a whole catalog.
Common questions
- Does the N2YO API need a key?
- Yes. You register a free account and generate a licence key from your profile.
- Is there a free satellite API with no registration?
- The OrbitalWiki read endpoints answer without a key. A free key raises the limit to 1,000 requests a day.
- Can I download the whole catalog from N2YO?
- No. Its API is per-satellite by NORAD id. For bulk work you need a source that publishes downloads.