Satellites Visible from Phnom Penh
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Phnom Penh on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 1 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble pass, the best reaching 11° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Phnom Penh on 23 August 2026 is 19:31–19:41 and 04:00–05:20 GMT+7, 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 Phnom Penh. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Phnom Penh (11.6°N) — this close to the equator, passes sweep the whole sky and twilight is brief, so satellites appear soon after dark.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia 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 PHNOM PENH NOWWhat Phnom Penh's latitude means for satellite spotting
Latitude decides what you can see, and Phnom Penh’s is 11.6°N. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 12° it climbs 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.
Past the two stations, latitude decides everything else overhead. The Milky Way's core reaches a useful height — culminating about 49° 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 12° up in the north to orient yourself. Longer autumn and winter nights give the steadiest viewing.
Phnom Penh’s dry season (November–April) delivers the reliable nights; the May–October monsoon claims most evenings with late-day storms.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM PHNOM PENH
When can I see the ISS from Phnom Penh?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Phnom Penh's latitude of 11.6°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 Phnom Penh?
From Phnom Penh 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 Phnom Penh?
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 Phnom Penh city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Phnom Penh's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Phnom Penh's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Largely yes — 11.6°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 Phnom Penh?
The strongest window is October to March: longer winter darkness and steadier air, tailing off through the short, hazy summer nights.
Phnom Penh 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 Phnom Penh (11.56°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: