Satellites Visible from Ashgabat
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Ashgabat on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated FAIR NIGHT: 4 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 44° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Ashgabat on 23 August 2026 is 20:09–21:46 and 04:01–05:54 GMT+5, when most satellites are still catching sunlight. Between those windows the sky is dark but the majority sit inside Earth’s shadow. Individual satellites in lower orbits can be visible a little outside these times. The best ISS pass from Ashgabat on 23 August 2026 starts at 04:53 GMT+5, rises in the NW, peaks 14° above the horizon and sets in the N, lasting about 3 minutes.
At 9pm local on 23 August 2026, no naked-eye planets are above the horizon from Ashgabat. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Ashgabat (38.0°N) — a mid-latitude position that gets frequent, favourably-angled passes year-round.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan offers excellent satellite visibility. The ISS and Tiangong both pass high overhead here, and the AST BlueBirds are visible too. Hubble stays low in the south and needs a clear horizon. OrbitalNodes.ai shows you exactly when and where to look, personalised to your exact location.
Observing notesEvening twilight begins 30 min after sunset, morning 45 min before sunrise. Best viewing away from the city-centre light dome, toward darker outskirts — best October to March, when northern nights are longest.
🛰 SEE SATELLITES OVER ASHGABAT NOWWhat Ashgabat's latitude means for satellite spotting
At 38.0°N, the sky over Ashgabat has a geometry all its own. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 38° it climbs to high passes several nights a week. China’s Tiangong, on a 41.5° inclination, also rides high from here — a second naked-eye station over the city.
Beyond the bright stations, your latitude sets what else is up there. The Milky Way's core stays low — culminating about 23° up toward the south — though from the city its glow is mostly lost to light pollution; an hour out toward darker skies brings it back. The Magellanic Clouds stay permanently below your horizon; they belong to the deep south. For bearings, Polaris hangs roughly 38° above the northern horizon. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Ashgabat’s desert climate means clear nights are the default outside brief winter fronts; the Karakum’s truly dark sky begins just beyond the city glow.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM ASHGABAT
When can I see the ISS from Ashgabat?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Ashgabat's latitude of 38.0°N the best passes climb nearly overhead, and the brightest take four to six minutes to cross. OrbitalNodes lists the precise pass times and where on the horizon to start watching.
What satellites are visible from Ashgabat?
From Ashgabat the headline targets are the ISS (magnitude −4, the brightest), Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope and the AST BlueBird satellites. Recently launched Starlink trains are a bonus when the timing lines up.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Ashgabat?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Heading to the darker edges of Ashgabat sharply improves what you can pick out. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Ashgabat city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Ashgabat's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Ashgabat's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
It does — 38.0°N is a strong latitude, with high, bright ISS passes nearly overhead and access to a wide spread of orbits. Tiangong, China's space station, can also ride high here and is an easy second naked-eye target.
What is the best season for satellite spotting in Ashgabat?
Aim for October through March, when northern-hemisphere nights are longest and the air is clearest; midwinter is prime.
Ashgabat sits in the Northern Hemisphere — and when EARENDIL-1 launches, its steerable mirror could illuminate targeted cities during passes. Track space-mirror passes on OrbitalSolar.ai →
WHAT'S VISIBLE FROM HERE
From Ashgabat (37.96°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: