Satellites Visible from Cairo
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Cairo 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 Cairo on 23 August 2026 is 19:44–21:10 and 04:29–05:54 EEST, 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 Cairo. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Cairo (30.0°N) — the ISS can climb high overhead here, giving bright, well-placed passes.
Cairo, Egypt offers excellent satellite visibility. The ISS, Tiangong, Hubble, and AST BlueBird satellites all pass over the city — 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 CAIRO NOWWhat Cairo's latitude means for satellite spotting
At 30.0°N, the sky over Cairo has a geometry all its own. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 30° it climbs to high passes several nights a week. There’s a second station too: Tiangong’s 41.5° inclination carries it high across your sky, bright enough for the naked eye.
Beyond the bright stations, your latitude sets what else is up there. Look for the Milky Way’s core, which reaches a useful height — about 31° up in the south at best — 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. Find Polaris about 30° up in the north to orient yourself. Longer autumn and winter nights give the steadiest viewing.
Cairo is clear almost year-round — the battle is dust and megacity glow rather than cloud; the Western Desert’s dark sky starts within an hour’s drive.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM CAIRO
When can I see the ISS from Cairo?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Cairo's latitude of 30.0°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 Cairo?
From Cairo 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 Cairo?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Even 30 to 60 minutes beyond Cairo's light dome makes a dramatic difference. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Cairo city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Cairo's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Cairo's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Yes — 30.0°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 Cairo?
October to March is best — the long northern winter nights are cold but crisp and transparent, with December and January at their peak.
Cairo 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 Cairo (30.04°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: