Satellites Visible from Taipei
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Taipei on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 2 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 25° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Taipei on 23 August 2026 is 03:26–04:59 and 18:36–19:56 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 23 August 2026, no naked-eye planets are above the horizon from Taipei. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Taipei (25.0°N) — the ISS can climb high overhead here, giving bright, well-placed passes.
Taipei, Taiwan 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 TAIPEI NOWWhat Taipei's latitude means for satellite spotting
Latitude decides what you can see, and Taipei’s is 25.0°N. Your best target is the ISS: at magnitude −4 it outshines the glow, delivering high passes from 25° 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.
Past the two stations, latitude decides everything else overhead. The galactic core reaches a useful height — peaking around 36° 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 25° above the northern horizon. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Taipei’s northeast monsoon drizzle (roughly October–March) and summer typhoons both take nights — settled autumn highs between systems are the best windows.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM TAIPEI
When can I see the ISS from Taipei?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Taipei's latitude of 25.0°N the best passes climb nearly overhead, and the brightest take four to six minutes to cross. Check OrbitalNodes for the exact times and the compass direction to look.
What satellites are visible from Taipei?
From Taipei the headline targets are the ISS (magnitude −4, the brightest), Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope and the AST BlueBird satellites. Fresh Starlink trains can also put on a show in the days after a launch.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Taipei?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Even 30 to 60 minutes beyond Taipei's light dome makes a dramatic difference. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Taipei city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Taipei's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Taipei's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
Yes — 25.0°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 Taipei?
October to March is best — the long northern winter nights are cold but crisp and transparent, with December and January at their peak.
Taipei 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 Taipei (25.03°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: