# satellite_passes

skypeek: Predict satellite passes over a location. For sun and moon times use sun_moon_times. Returns the passes of a satellite (default the ISS) over a point in the next 1-3 days: start, highest and end times with azimuth and elevation, duration, and whether the pass is visible to the eye. SGP4 predictions, not observations, from CelesTrak orbital elements (only derived pass times are returned; no endorsement by CelesTrak implied). Satellites: CelesTrak's 'stations' and 'visual' groups plus NOAA 15 / 18 / 19; another NORAD id is a 422 (not charged). At most 40 passes. A cold orbital-data cache or an upstream outage can be a 503 (not charged; retry). Typically under 1 s; with a cold orbital-data cache up to a minute or more (a 503 when too slow, not charged: retry). Price: USD 0.002. Free: 5 skypeek calls per IP per UTC day. Docs: https://tanod.dev/learn/iss-pass-times-api.html

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `satellite_passes`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/satellite-passes

## Facts

- Tool: `satellite_passes`
- Server: Tanod (`https://tanod.dev/mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/https://tanod.dev/mcp
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server auth posture: open
- Server CORS policy: *
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 7 (2 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `lat` | number | yes | Latitude in degrees (-90 to 90). |
| `lon` | number | yes | Longitude in degrees (-180 to 180). |
| `days` | integer | no | Window in days (1-3). |
| `alt_m` | number | no | Observer altitude in metres. |
| `norad_id` | integer | no | NORAD catalog number (default 25544, the ISS); CelesTrak 'stations' and 'visual' groups plus NOAA 15 / 18 / 19. |
| `visible_only` | boolean | no | Only passes that can be seen with the eye (satellite sunlit, sky dark). |
| `min_elevation` | number | no | Lowest elevation counted as a pass, in degrees above the horizon. |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "satellite_passes",
    "arguments": {
      "lat": 0,
      "lon": 0
    }
  }
}
```

## Why satellite_passes is rated High

satellite_passes triggers real processes with real consequences. An agent gone sideways doesn't fire it once. It starts dozens of builds, sends mass notifications, or burns through compute before anyone looks up.

## Use case

AI agents invoke satellite_passes to trigger actions in Tanod. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Tanod:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "satellite_passes": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "satellite_passes_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Tanod (307)

- `audit_token_approvals` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/audit-token-approvals.md
- `aurora_forecast` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/aurora-forecast.md
- `diff_text` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/diff-text.md
- `image_metadata` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/image-metadata.md
- `pdf_pipeline` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/pdf-pipeline.md
- `pdf_protect` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/pdf-protect.md
- `pdf_remove_pages` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/pdf-remove-pages.md
- `pdf_reorder_pages` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/pdf-reorder-pages.md
- `build_ics_event` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/build-ics-event.md
- `build_pptx_deck` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/build-pptx-deck.md
- `build_xlsx_workbook` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/build-xlsx-workbook.md
- `bulk_agent_index` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/bulk-agent-index.md
- `cron_next_runs` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/cron-next-runs.md
- `decode_calldata` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/decode-calldata.md
- `expand_rrule` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/expand-rrule.md
- `html_to_pdf` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/html-to-pdf.md
- `image_crop` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/image-crop.md
- `parse_ics` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-ics.md
- `parse_phone_number` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-phone-number.md
- `parse_rss_feed` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-rss-feed.md
- `parse_sitemap` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-sitemap.md
- `parse_url` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-url.md
- `parse_user_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/parse-user-agent.md
- `render_mermaid` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/render-mermaid.md
- `sec_financials` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/sec-financials.md
- `transcribe_audio` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/transcribe-audio.md
- `x402_well_known_file` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/x402-well-known-file.md
- `compare_stablecoin_transfer_fees` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/compare-stablecoin-transfer-fees.md
- `transfer_preflight` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/transfer-preflight.md
- `airport_distance` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod/airport-distance.md
- …and 277 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/dev-tanod-tanod.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=dev-tanod-tanod · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/dev-tanod-tanod