diff --git a/src/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.tsx b/src/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.tsx
index 050d574..9c3f48f 100644
--- a/src/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import { Badge } from "../../components/Badge";
 import { DetailPanel, Section, Field } from "../../components/DetailPanel";
 import { formatUptime, formatBattery, formatHex, formatSnr, snrLevel, SIGNAL_LEVEL_CLASSES } from "../../lib/formatters";
 import { Timestamp } from "../../components/Timestamp";
+import { useTick } from "../../hooks/useTick";
+import { deriveObserverStatus } from "./observer-status";
 import type { BadgeVariant } from "../../components/badge-utils";
 import { IataChip } from "../../components/IataChip";
 import { ScopeTag } from "../../components/ScopeTag";
@@ -114,7 +116,9 @@ export function ObserverDetailPanel({ observerId, onClose, onAnalyzePacket, onVi
     staleTime: 30_000,
   });
 
+  useTick(); // re-derive the status badge as lastStatusAt ages
   const stats = observer ? getStats(observer.statusMetadata) : null;
+  const status = observer ? deriveObserverStatus(observer) : null;
 
   return (
     <DetailPanel
@@ -137,8 +141,8 @@ export function ObserverDetailPanel({ observerId, onClose, onAnalyzePacket, onVi
                 <span className="font-mono text-xs font-semibold text-primary tracking-wider">
                   {observer.displayName ?? observer.id.slice(0, 8)}
                 </span>
-                <Badge variant={observer.status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>
-                  {observer.status}
+                <Badge variant={status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>
+                  {status}
                 </Badge>
               </div>
               <div className="font-mono text-[13px] text-text-muted truncate mb-1.5" title={observer.publicKey}>
diff --git a/src/features/observers/ObserverTable.tsx b/src/features/observers/ObserverTable.tsx
index a8599f8..21eab8e 100644
--- a/src/features/observers/ObserverTable.tsx
+++ b/src/features/observers/ObserverTable.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import { LoadingPill } from "../../components/LoadingPill";
 import { ObserverFilterBar } from "./ObserverFilterBar";
 import { ObserverDetailPanel } from "./ObserverDetailPanel";
 import { patchObserverSummary } from "./observer-updates";
+import { deriveObserverStatus } from "./observer-status";
+import { useTick } from "../../hooks/useTick";
 import type { ObserverSummary } from "./types";
 import type { CursorPage } from "../../types/api";
 import type { WsManager } from "../../api/ws-manager";
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ const COLUMNS: Column<ObserverSummary>[] = [
     sortValue: (obs) => obs.displayName ?? formatHex(obs.id),
     cell: (obs) => (
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-        <span className={`w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full shrink-0 ${obs.status === "online" ? "bg-green" : "bg-text-dim/30"}`} />
+        <span className={`w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full shrink-0 ${deriveObserverStatus(obs) === "online" ? "bg-green" : "bg-text-dim/30"}`} />
         <span className={`truncate ${obs.displayName ? "text-text-normal" : "text-text-dim italic"}`}>
           {obs.displayName ?? formatHex(obs.id)}
         </span>
@@ -61,23 +63,27 @@ const COLUMNS: Column<ObserverSummary>[] = [
   },
   {
     header: "Status",
-    sortValue: (obs) => obs.status,
-    cell: (obs) => <Badge variant={obs.status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{obs.status}</Badge>,
+    sortValue: (obs) => deriveObserverStatus(obs),
+    cell: (obs) => {
+      const status = deriveObserverStatus(obs);
+      return <Badge variant={status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{status}</Badge>;
+    },
   },
 ];
 
 function renderObserverCard(obs: ObserverSummary) {
+  const status = deriveObserverStatus(obs);
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5 font-mono text-xs">
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
         <div className="flex flex-1 items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
-          <span className={`w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full shrink-0 ${obs.status === "online" ? "bg-green" : "bg-text-dim/30"}`} />
+          <span className={`w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full shrink-0 ${status === "online" ? "bg-green" : "bg-text-dim/30"}`} />
           <span className={`flex-1 min-w-0 truncate ${obs.displayName ? "text-text-normal" : "text-text-dim italic"}`}>
             {obs.displayName ?? formatHex(obs.id)}
           </span>
         </div>
         <span className="shrink-0">
-          <Badge variant={obs.status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{obs.status}</Badge>
+          <Badge variant={status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{status}</Badge>
         </span>
       </div>
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-text-muted">
@@ -99,6 +105,8 @@ export function ObserverTable({ wsManager, selectedObserverId, onSelectObserver,
   const [brokerFilter, setBrokerFilter] = useState("");
   const [scopeFilter, setScopeFilter] = useState(""); // "" = Any; applied client-side over the loaded set
 
+  useTick(); // keep recency-derived status badges fresh
+
   const { data: brokers } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["brokers"],
     queryFn: getBrokers,
diff --git a/src/features/observers/observer-status.ts b/src/features/observers/observer-status.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e9d547
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/observers/observer-status.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import type { ObserverSummary } from "./types";
+
+// matches the server's read-time rule: last_status_at within 5 minutes = online (db/queries/queries.sql)
+export const OBSERVER_ONLINE_WINDOW_MS = 5 * 60_000;
+
+// The WS observerStatus event never reports offline, so the fetched status would stay green forever.
+// Re-derive it from lastStatusAt recency at render time; rows without a timestamp keep the fetched value.
+export function deriveObserverStatus(
+  obs: Pick<ObserverSummary, "status" | "lastStatusAt">,
+  now: number = Date.now(),
+): ObserverSummary["status"] {
+  if (obs.lastStatusAt == null) return obs.status;
+  return now - obs.lastStatusAt < OBSERVER_ONLINE_WINDOW_MS ? "online" : "offline";
+}
diff --git a/src/features/observers/observer-updates.ts b/src/features/observers/observer-updates.ts
index fc5c578..b1608e4 100644
--- a/src/features/observers/observer-updates.ts
+++ b/src/features/observers/observer-updates.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,11 @@ export function patchObserverSummary(
   const prev = list[idx]!;
   const status = data.online ? "online" : "offline";
   const displayName = data.displayName || prev.displayName;
-  // an unchanged status event must keep the SAME ref so patchInfinitePages no-ops (no row re-render)
-  if (status === prev.status && displayName === prev.displayName) return list;
+  const lastStatusAt = data.lastStatusAt || prev.lastStatusAt;
+  // a truly unchanged event keeps the SAME ref so patchInfinitePages no-ops; a fresh lastStatusAt
+  // must produce a new ref so the row's recency-derived status stays live
+  if (status === prev.status && displayName === prev.displayName && lastStatusAt === prev.lastStatusAt) return list;
   const updated = [...list];
-  updated[idx] = { ...prev, status, displayName };
+  updated[idx] = { ...prev, status, displayName, lastStatusAt };
   return updated;
 }
diff --git a/src/features/observers/types.ts b/src/features/observers/types.ts
index 0754b1a..60c67f1 100644
--- a/src/features/observers/types.ts
+++ b/src/features/observers/types.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ export interface ObserverSummary {
   status: "online" | "offline";
   radio?: string; // compact "freq,bw,sf" string, e.g. "915.0,250,11"; absent when unknown
   scopes?: string[]; // transport scopes this observer forwards, e.g. ["#bc", "#west"]
+  // epoch ms; not in REST list responses — patched in from WS status events for recency derivation
+  lastStatusAt?: number;
 }
 
 export interface Observer extends ObserverSummary {
@@ -21,7 +23,6 @@ export interface Observer extends ObserverSummary {
   batteryLevel?: number;
   uptimeSeconds?: number;
   statusMetadata?: Record<string, unknown>;
-  lastStatusAt?: number; // epoch ms
   firstSeen: number; // epoch ms
   lastSeen: number; // epoch ms
   observationCount: number;
diff --git a/src/features/stats/ObserverTab.tsx b/src/features/stats/ObserverTab.tsx
index 67604c6..625b6ec 100644
--- a/src/features/stats/ObserverTab.tsx
+++ b/src/features/stats/ObserverTab.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import { useRegion } from "../../hooks/useRegion";
 import { useChartColors } from "./chartTheme";
 import { useTopObservers } from "./useStats";
 import { useObserver, useObserverTelemetry } from "./useTelemetry";
+import { useTick } from "../../hooks/useTick";
+import { deriveObserverStatus } from "../observers/observer-status";
 import { airtimeOption, batteryOption, noiseFloorOption, queueOption, receiveErrorsOption } from "./chartOptions";
 import { Card, ChartCard } from "./cards";
 import { hasTelemetry } from "./transforms";
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ function ObserverList({
 }
 
 function ObserverHeader({ observer }: { observer: Observer }) {
+  useTick(); // keep the recency-derived status badge fresh
+  const status = deriveObserverStatus(observer);
   const radio = [
     observer.radioFreqMhz && `${observer.radioFreqMhz} MHz`,
     observer.radioSf && `SF${observer.radioSf}`,
@@ -114,7 +118,7 @@ function ObserverHeader({ observer }: { observer: Observer }) {
       title={
         <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <span className="text-text-bright normal-case">{observer.displayName ?? observer.id.slice(0, 8)}</span>
-          <Badge variant={observer.status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{observer.status}</Badge>
+          <Badge variant={status === "online" ? "live" : "offline"}>{status}</Badge>
           {observer.observerType && <Badge variant="default">{observer.observerType}</Badge>}
         </span>
       }
diff --git a/tests/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.test.tsx b/tests/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.test.tsx
index ce52068..7d332ae 100644
--- a/tests/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/features/observers/ObserverDetailPanel.test.tsx
@@ -57,6 +57,25 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   mockGetObserverAdverts.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], nextCursor: null, hasMore: false });
 });
 
+describe("ObserverDetailPanel status", () => {
+  it("renders offline when lastStatusAt is 10 minutes old even if the API status says online", async () => {
+    mockGetObserver.mockResolvedValue({ ...observer, status: "online", lastStatusAt: Date.now() - 10 * 60_000 });
+
+    renderPanel();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText("offline")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("online")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("renders online when lastStatusAt is fresh", async () => {
+    mockGetObserver.mockResolvedValue({ ...observer, status: "online", lastStatusAt: Date.now() - 60_000 });
+
+    renderPanel();
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText("online")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
 describe("ObserverDetailPanel adverts", () => {
   it("lists adverts heard by the observer", async () => {
     mockGetObserverAdverts.mockResolvedValue({
diff --git a/tests/features/observers/observer-status.test.ts b/tests/features/observers/observer-status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7886352
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/features/observers/observer-status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest";
+import { deriveObserverStatus, OBSERVER_ONLINE_WINDOW_MS } from "../../../src/features/observers/observer-status";
+
+const now = 1_750_000_000_000;
+
+describe("deriveObserverStatus", () => {
+  it("derives offline when lastStatusAt is 10 minutes old, even if the fetched status says online", () => {
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "online", lastStatusAt: now - 10 * 60_000 }, now)).toBe("offline");
+  });
+
+  it("derives online when lastStatusAt is fresh, even if the fetched status says offline", () => {
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "offline", lastStatusAt: now - 60_000 }, now)).toBe("online");
+  });
+
+  it("flips to offline at exactly the window edge (server rule is strictly within 5 minutes)", () => {
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "online", lastStatusAt: now - OBSERVER_ONLINE_WINDOW_MS }, now)).toBe("offline");
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "online", lastStatusAt: now - OBSERVER_ONLINE_WINDOW_MS + 1 }, now)).toBe("online");
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the fetched status when the row carries no timestamp", () => {
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "online" }, now)).toBe("online");
+    expect(deriveObserverStatus({ status: "offline" }, now)).toBe("offline");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/features/observers/observer-updates.test.ts b/tests/features/observers/observer-updates.test.ts
index ca836b8..3c3dd3f 100644
--- a/tests/features/observers/observer-updates.test.ts
+++ b/tests/features/observers/observer-updates.test.ts
@@ -57,4 +57,17 @@ describe("patchObserverSummary", () => {
     const out = patchObserverSummary(list, update({ observerId: "a", online: true, displayName: "" }));
     expect(out).toBe(list);
   });
+
+  it("carries lastStatusAt from the event so recency derivation stays live", () => {
+    const list = [observer({ id: "a", status: "offline" })];
+    const out = patchObserverSummary(list, update({ observerId: "a", online: true, lastStatusAt: 123_456 }))!;
+    expect(out[0]!.lastStatusAt).toBe(123_456);
+  });
+
+  it("updates lastStatusAt even when status and displayName are unchanged", () => {
+    const list = [observer({ id: "a", status: "online", displayName: "Keep", lastStatusAt: 100 })];
+    const out = patchObserverSummary(list, update({ observerId: "a", online: true, displayName: "", lastStatusAt: 200 }))!;
+    expect(out).not.toBe(list);
+    expect(out[0]!.lastStatusAt).toBe(200);
+  });
 });