Satellites Visible from Vientiane
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Vientiane on the night of 23 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 1 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble pass, the best reaching 23° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Vientiane on 23 August 2026 is 19:31–20:00 and 04:00–05:23 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 Vientiane. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
Vientiane (18.0°N) — the ISS can climb high overhead here, giving bright, well-placed passes.
Vientiane, Laos 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 VIENTIANE NOWWhat Vientiane's latitude means for satellite spotting
At 18.0°N, the sky over Vientiane has a geometry all its own. Start with the ISS — bright enough at magnitude −4 to punch through city skyglow, and from 18° 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.
Beyond the bright stations, your latitude sets what else is up there. The galactic core reaches a useful height — peaking around 43° 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. For bearings, Polaris hangs roughly 18° above the northern horizon. The long nights of autumn and winter offer the steadiest viewing.
Vientiane’s dry season (November–April) is the window — monsoon evenings (May–October) usually cloud over just as darkness falls.
SATELLITE SPOTTING FROM VIENTIANE
When can I see the ISS from Vientiane?
The ISS appears during twilight — roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. From Vientiane's latitude of 18.0°N 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 Vientiane?
From Vientiane 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 Vientiane?
The bright stations cut through city glow, but fainter targets reward darker ground. Heading to the darker edges of Vientiane sharply improves what you can pick out. Polaris and the Big Dipper help you orient.
Can I see satellites from Vientiane city centre?
Yes. At magnitude −4 the ISS punches straight through Vientiane's light pollution and needs no equipment, and Tiangong usually shows from the centre too. Only the fainter satellites really need darker skies.
Does Vientiane's latitude make it good for satellite spotting?
It does — 18.0°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 Vientiane?
Aim for October through March, when northern-hemisphere nights are longest and the air is clearest; midwinter is prime.
Vientiane 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 Vientiane (17.98°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites — here's what's visible and what isn't: