Satellites Visible from Kathmandu
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Kathmandu on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 2 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 55° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Kathmandu on 23 August 2026 is 18:50–20:13 and 03:43–05:06 GMT+5:45, 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 Kathmandu. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Kathmandu (27.7°N) — the ISS can climb high overhead here, giving bright, well-placed passes.
Kathmandu, Nepal 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 KATHMANDU NOWWhat Kathmandu's latitude means for satellite spotting
At 27.7°N, the sky over Kathmandu has a geometry all its own. Your best target is the ISS: at magnitude −4 it outshines the glow, delivering high passes from 28° 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. The Milky Way's core reaches a useful height — culminating about 33° 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. Find Polaris about 28° up in the north to orient yourself. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Kathmandu’s monsoon (June–September) blanks the sky, but October–November post-monsoon clarity in the valley is famously sharp — the prime window.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM KATHMANDU
When can I see the ISS from Kathmandu?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Kathmandu's latitude of 27.7°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 Kathmandu?
From Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Kathmandu's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Kathmandu's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Largely yes — 27.7°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 Kathmandu?
The strongest window is October to March: longer winter darkness and steadier air, tailing off through the short, hazy summer nights.
Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu (27.72°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: