Satellites Visible from Bamako
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Bamako on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 1 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble pass, the best reaching 12° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Bamako on 23 August 2026 is 19:02–20:14 and 04:39–05:51 GMT, 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 Bamako. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Bamako (12.6°N) — this close to the equator, passes sweep the whole sky and twilight is brief, so satellites appear soon after dark.
Bamako, Mali is perfectly placed for satellite spotting. The ISS, Tiangong, Hubble, and AST BlueBird satellites all pass overhead — 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 BAMAKO NOWWhat Bamako's latitude means for satellite spotting
Bamako sits at 12.7°N, and that one number shapes its whole night sky. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 13° 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 reaches a useful height — culminating about 48° 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 only skim your southern horizon, and city glow makes them a dark-site target. Find Polaris about 13° up in the north to orient yourself. Longer autumn and winter nights give the steadiest viewing.
Bamako’s dry season (about November–April) delivers weeks of cloud-free nights, with Harmattan dust the only spoiler for fainter targets.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM BAMAKO
When can I see the ISS from Bamako?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Bamako's latitude of 12.7°N the best passes climb nearly overhead, and the brightest take four to six minutes to cross. Check OrbitalNodes for the exact times and the compass direction to look.
What satellites are visible from Bamako?
From Bamako the headline targets are the ISS (magnitude −4, the brightest), Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope and the AST BlueBird satellites. Fresh Starlink trains can also put on a show in the days after a launch.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Bamako?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Even 30 to 60 minutes beyond Bamako's light dome makes a dramatic difference. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Bamako city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Bamako's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Bamako's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Yes — 12.7°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 Bamako?
October to March is best — the long northern winter nights are cold but crisp and transparent, with December and January at their peak.
Bamako 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 Bamako (12.65°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: