Satellites Visible Tonight

What can you see in the sky from your location tonight? OrbitalNodes.ai combines real-time satellite tracking with live weather data to give you a complete viewing forecast — personalised to exactly where you are.

We show you tonight's twilight viewing window, expected satellite passes with directions, live cloud cover from Open-Meteo, moon phase and how it affects visibility, planets that might be confused with satellites, and a 7-day forecast so you can plan ahead.

The best satellite viewing happens during twilight — the 30-60 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. Clear skies and a new moon make for the best conditions.

🌟 CHECK TONIGHT'S SKY
🌙 TONIGHT'S CONDITIONS — YOUR LOCATION
Live cloud cover · Moon phase · Viewing forecast
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Uses your location for live cloud cover and moon phase
TONIGHT'S VIEWING CONDITIONS — WHAT AFFECTS WHAT YOU SEE 1 — TWILIGHT WINDOW DAWN ✓ DAYTIME ✗ MIDNIGHT ✗ DAY ✗ DUSK ✓ 4am 6am 9pm 3pm 6pm 8pm Best windows: 30–90 min after sunset · 30–90 min before sunrise · Sats sunlit, you in darkness 2 — CLOUD COVER 0–20% ★★★ PERFECT All satellites visible Faint ones too 20–40% ★★☆ GOOD ISS clearly visible Starlinks may show 40–80% ★☆☆ PATCHY Bright passes only Wait for gaps 80–100% ✗ OVERCAST Nothing visible Try tomorrow 3 — MOON PHASE EFFECT NEW MOON ★★★ Best skies Darkest conditions Faint sats visible CRESCENT ★★☆ Good Sets early/rises late Most sats visible HALF MOON ★☆☆ OK Washes out faint sats ISS still visible FULL MOON ✗ Worst night Sky washed out ISS only 4 — WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT ★ IDEAL CONDITIONS Clear skies + new moon + ISS overhead pass → ISS blazing at mag −4, Starlink train if recent launch → 10–20 satellites visible in one hour Use OrbitalNodes Best Pass feature ✗ POOR CONDITIONS Heavy cloud + full moon + no ISS pass → Nothing visible, not worth going out → Check 7-day forecast for better night OrbitalNodes shows cloud cover live ORBITALNODES.AI — REAL-TIME CONDITIONS FOR YOUR EXACT LOCATION

VIEWING GUIDE

What time can I see satellites tonight?

During twilight — typically 30-60 minutes after sunset and 30-60 minutes before sunrise. Our tracker calculates the exact viewing window for your location and shows it on the forecast card.

Does cloud cover matter?

Yes — clouds block your view of satellites completely. Our forecast includes live cloud cover data so you know whether it's worth going outside. Below 40% cloud cover is good for viewing. Above 80% and you probably won't see anything.

Does the moon affect satellite viewing?

A bright moon washes out fainter satellites and Starlinks, but bright objects like the ISS are visible regardless. A new moon gives the darkest skies and the best conditions for spotting faint objects.

How many satellites can I see tonight?

On a clear evening during twilight, you might see 5-15 satellites over the course of an hour — most of them Starlinks. The brightest and most recognisable are the ISS, Tiangong, and Hubble.

Why can I only see satellites at dusk and dawn?

Satellites are only visible when they're in sunlight and you're in darkness — the narrow twilight window each morning and evening. During the day both you and the satellite are in sunlight, so it's invisible against the bright sky. In the middle of the night the satellite is in Earth's shadow and produces no reflected light. The best windows are roughly 30–90 minutes after sunset and before sunrise.

How many satellites are visible tonight?

On any given clear night, dozens of satellites pass over any location worldwide. The ISS is the highlight — bright and easy to spot. Starlink satellites are fainter individually but if a new batch launched recently you may see a train. OrbitalNodes shows you the full list for your exact location tonight.

What's the brightest satellite tonight?

Almost always the ISS, reaching magnitude −2 to −4 on good passes — brighter than any star. If the ISS isn't passing tonight from your location, Tiangong (China's space station) and Hubble Space Telescope are the next brightest. OrbitalNodes ranks tonight's satellites by brightness so you know what to look for first.

◈ ORBITAL MIRRORS — ORBITALSOLAR.AI

When Earendil-1 launches in 2026 it will appear in tonight's sky as one of the brightest moving objects. EARENDIL-1 space mirror launching mid-2026 — OrbitalSolar.ai →