Satellites Visible from Singapore
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Singapore on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated FAIR NIGHT: 1 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble pass, the best reaching 26° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Singapore on 23 August 2026 is 05:24–06:34 and 19:25–20:34 GMT+8, 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 24 August 2026 from Singapore, Venus is in the west, about 1 fist above the horizon. Planets shine with a steady light, unlike satellites, which cross the sky in a few minutes.
Singapore (1.4°N) — this close to the equator, passes sweep the whole sky and twilight is brief, so satellites appear soon after dark.
Singapore 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.
Short twilight windows — near-equatorial location means fast sunsets. Very high — one of the most light-polluted cities on Earth. Best months: February–April and August–October — clearest skies between monsoon seasons.
🛰 SEE SATELLITES OVER SINGAPORE NOWSATELLITE SPOTTING FROM SINGAPORE
Can I see the ISS from Singapore?
Yes — the ISS is visible from Singapore but behaves differently than from higher latitudes. At 1.35°N, the ISS can pass nearly overhead, reaching up to 90° elevation. It's still bright (magnitude −4) and easily spotted in the brief twilight window. A high overhead pass lasts around 5-6 minutes from horizon to horizon. Use OrbitalNodes for exact times.
What satellites are visible from Singapore?
Singapore's equatorial position gives it unique satellite visibility. Geostationary satellites at 35,786km altitude appear almost directly overhead — Intelsat, SES, and Asian telecom satellites sit near the zenith. The ISS and Tiangong can also pass high overhead. AST BlueBirds at various inclinations pass over regularly. The ISS's 51.6° inclination means it climbs high overhead from Singapore's perspective.
When is the best time to see satellites in Singapore?
Two short windows each night, not one long one. Satellites are only lit when the sky is dark for you but they are still in sunlight — roughly 19:30–20:40 and 05:20–06:35, about 70 minutes each. Civil twilight itself lasts only 20–25 minutes at the equator, and between the two windows the sky is dark but every satellite sits inside Earth’s shadow. Act quickly and have OrbitalNodes open showing the exact direction before going outside. The inter-monsoon periods (February–April and August–October) offer the clearest skies.
Does Singapore's humidity affect satellite visibility?
Significantly — Singapore's year-round high humidity creates atmospheric haze that reduces limiting magnitude from the theoretical 6 down to 3-4 on typical nights. The ISS is bright enough to cut through this easily. Fainter satellites like BlueBirds (magnitude 3) are marginal on hazy nights. Visibility is best immediately after a rainstorm clears the air — the sky can be remarkably transparent for 30-60 minutes after heavy rain.
Where is the best place to spot satellites in Singapore?
Any location with an open sky works well for ISS passes since the ISS climbs high overhead from Singapore. Gardens by the Bay and East Coast Park both offer open skies. For darker conditions, Pulau Ubin (accessible by boat) has significantly less light pollution. Central Catchment Nature Reserve in the middle of the island also provides darker skies than the urban edges.
Can I see geostationary satellites from Singapore?
Not with the naked eye — geostationary satellites at 35,786km are far too faint to see without a telescope. However their position nearly directly overhead from Singapore is a unique orbital geometry feature. What Singapore can see are LEO satellites (ISS, Starlink) crossing high overhead. Starlink trains are visible during twilight and appear as a line tracking across the sky, often passing high.
Why is Singapore's twilight window so short?
At 1.35°N — essentially on the equator — the Sun drops almost vertically below the horizon rather than at the shallow angle seen at higher latitudes. This means twilight lasts only 20-25 minutes before it becomes either too bright (Sun too close to horizon) or too dark (satellites enter Earth's shadow). Compare this to London at 51°N where twilight can last 90 minutes or even persist all night in summer, giving much more time for satellite spotting. In Singapore you need to be outside, eyes adjusted, and OrbitalNodes open before sunset if you want to catch the window.
What makes Singapore unique for satellite watching compared to other cities?
Singapore has a combination of factors found nowhere else: the shortest twilight window of any city on this list (20-25 minutes), near-overhead ISS passes, and the highest GEO satellite proximity (geostationary belt appears near overhead). It's also one of the most light-polluted cities on Earth yet gets excellent Hubble coverage (1.3°N well within the 28.5° limit). The ISS can climb almost overhead here — the opposite of the low passes seen from far-northern cities. Pulau Ubin offshore provides surprisingly dark skies within 30 minutes of the CBD.
Singapore's equatorial location makes it an interesting case for space mirrors — EARENDIL-1's orbit would pass over Singapore at lower angles, but the dense urban population makes it a commercially attractive target. OrbitalSolar.ai has full pass predictions for Singapore →
WHAT'S VISIBLE FROM HERE
Singapore at 1.3°N is uniquely placed — nearly on the equator — which affects every satellite differently: