Satellites Visible from Seoul
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Seoul on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated GOOD NIGHT: 3 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 53° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Seoul on 23 August 2026 is 03:23–05:20 and 19:32–21:09 GMT+9, 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 ISS pass from Seoul on 23 August 2026 starts at 04:14 GMT+9, rises in the NW, peaks 15° above the horizon and sets in the NNE, lasting about 3 minutes.
At 9pm local on 23 August 2026, no naked-eye planets are above the horizon from Seoul. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Seoul (37.6°N) — a mid-latitude position that gets frequent, favourably-angled passes year-round.
Seoul, South Korea offers excellent satellite visibility. The ISS and Tiangong both pass high overhead here, and the AST BlueBirds are visible too. Hubble stays low in the south and needs a clear horizon. 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 SEOUL NOWWhat Seoul's latitude means for satellite spotting
Latitude decides what you can see, and Seoul’s is 37.6°N. The ISS is your standout target: at magnitude −4 it cuts straight through city skyglow, and from 38° it can climb 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.
The stations are just the start — the same latitude arranges the rest of the sky. The Milky Way's core stays low — culminating about 23° 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. For bearings, Polaris hangs roughly 38° above the northern horizon. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Seoul’s jangma rains (roughly late June–July) blank midsummer — the crystalline October–November autumn is famously the clearest sky of the year.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM SEOUL
When can I see the ISS from Seoul?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Seoul's latitude of 37.6°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 Seoul?
From Seoul 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 Seoul?
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 Seoul city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Seoul's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Seoul's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Largely yes — 37.6°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 Seoul?
The strongest window is October to March: longer winter darkness and steadier air, tailing off through the short, hazy summer nights.
Seoul 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 Seoul (37.57°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: