Satellites Visible from Baghdad
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Baghdad on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated FAIR NIGHT: 2 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 31° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Baghdad on 23 August 2026 is 18:57–20:26 and 03:27–04:57 GMT+3, 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 pass of the night is picked from live orbital data — the one that climbs highest and stays visible longest.
At 9pm local on 23 August 2026, no naked-eye planets are above the horizon from Baghdad. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Baghdad (33.3°N) — the ISS can climb high overhead here, giving bright, well-placed passes.
Baghdad, Iraq 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 BAGHDAD NOWWhat Baghdad's latitude means for satellite spotting
Latitude decides what you can see, and Baghdad’s is 33.3°N. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 33° it climbs to high passes several nights a week. Tiangong, China’s station, orbits at 41.5° inclination, so from your latitude it too can ride high — a second bright, naked-eye station to catch from the city.
The stations are just the start — the same latitude arranges the rest of the sky. The Milky Way's core stays low — culminating about 28° 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 never rise from here at all — they belong to more southerly skies. For bearings, Polaris hangs roughly 33° above the northern horizon. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Baghdad is cloudless most of the year; summer dust and heat-haze are the real enemies — crisp winter and spring nights give the cleanest views.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM BAGHDAD
When can I see the ISS from Baghdad?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Baghdad's latitude of 33.3°N the best passes climb nearly overhead, and the brightest take four to six minutes to cross. Use the live tracker above for tonight's exact times and headings.
What satellites are visible from Baghdad?
From Baghdad the headline targets are the ISS (magnitude −4, the brightest), Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope and the AST BlueBird satellites. Bright Starlink trains occasionally cross too, soon after a launch.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Baghdad?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. A short drive away from direct street lighting is enough to bring out the faint passes. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Baghdad city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Baghdad's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Baghdad's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Largely yes — 33.3°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 Baghdad?
The strongest window is October to March: longer winter darkness and steadier air, tailing off through the short, hazy summer nights.
Baghdad 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 Baghdad (33.34°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: