Satellites Visible from Dakar
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Dakar 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 Dakar on 23 August 2026 is 19:41–20:55 and 04:50–06:27 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 from Dakar, Venus is in the west-southwest, about 1 fist above the horizon. Planets shine with a steady light, unlike satellites, which cross the sky in a few minutes.
Dakar (14.7°N) — this close to the equator, passes sweep the whole sky and twilight is brief, so satellites appear soon after dark.
Dakar, Senegal 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 DAKAR NOWWhat Dakar's latitude means for satellite spotting
Latitude decides what you can see, and Dakar’s is 14.7°N. The ISS is your standout target: at magnitude −4 it cuts straight through city skyglow, and from 15° it can climb 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. Look for the Milky Way’s core, which reaches a useful height — about 46° 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 only skim your southern horizon, and city glow makes them a dark-site target. Find Polaris about 15° up in the north to orient yourself. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Dakar’s November–May dry season is long and dependable; ocean horizons to the west are a bonus, with Harmattan dust the occasional spoiler.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM DAKAR
When can I see the ISS from Dakar?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Dakar's latitude of 14.7°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 Dakar?
From Dakar 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 Dakar?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Even 30 to 60 minutes beyond Dakar's light dome makes a dramatic difference. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Dakar city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Dakar's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Dakar's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Yes — 14.7°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 Dakar?
October to March is best — the long northern winter nights are cold but crisp and transparent, with December and January at their peak.
Dakar 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 Dakar (14.72°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: