Satellites Visible from Lima
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Lima on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated FAIR NIGHT: 1 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble pass, the best reaching 73° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Lima on 23 August 2026 is 18:18–19:28 and 04:36–05:47 GMT-5, 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 Lima. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Lima (12.0°S) — this close to the equator, passes sweep the whole sky and twilight is brief, so satellites appear soon after dark.
Lima, Peru 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 April to September, through the clear austral winter.
🛰 SEE SATELLITES OVER LIMA NOWWhat Lima's latitude means for satellite spotting
Lima sits at 12.0°S, and that one number shapes its whole night sky. Your best target is the ISS: at magnitude −4 it outshines the glow, delivering high passes from 12° 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.
The stations are just the start — the same latitude arranges the rest of the sky. The Milky Way's core climbs high — culminating about 73° 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 northern horizon, and city glow makes them a dark-site target. Polaris never rises; the Southern Cross and the unmarked south pole, about 12° up, are your guides. The clearest, longest nights here fall through the austral winter, May to August.
Lima’s famous garúa — the coastal fog blanket — greys out roughly May–October; summer (December–April) clears the coast, or head inland above the fog any time of year.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM LIMA
When can I see the ISS from Lima?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Lima's latitude of 12.0°S the best passes climb nearly overhead, and the brightest take four to six minutes to cross. OrbitalNodes lists the precise pass times and where on the horizon to start watching.
What satellites are visible from Lima?
From Lima the headline targets are the ISS (magnitude −4, the brightest), Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope and the AST BlueBird satellites. Recently launched Starlink trains are a bonus when the timing lines up.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Lima?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Heading to the darker edges of Lima sharply improves what you can pick out. The Southern Cross and the southern sky help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Lima city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Lima's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Lima's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
It does — 12.0°S 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 Lima?
Aim for April through September, the southern-hemisphere winter, when nights are longest and the sky most transparent.
Lima sits in the Southern 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 Lima (12.05°S) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: