Satellites Visible from New York
Tonight
Satellite viewing from New York on the night of 24 August 2026 is rated FAIR NIGHT: 2 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 23° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over New York on 24 August 2026 is 20:01–21:44 and 03:56–05:39 EDT, 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 New York on 24 August 2026 starts at 04:24 EDT, rises in the NNW, peaks 19° above the horizon and sets in the NNE, lasting about 3 minutes.
At 9pm local on 24 August 2026, no naked-eye planets are above the horizon from New York. Planets rise and set like the stars, so the picture changes through the night and across the year.
New York (40.7°N) — a mid-latitude position that gets frequent, favourably-angled passes year-round.
New York at 40.7°N gets both crewed stations directly overhead — the ISS and Tiangong each reach 90° — which matters more here than in most cities, because a zenith pass is the only kind that reliably beats the light dome. At magnitude −4 the ISS is visible from midtown Manhattan without leaving the street. Hubble is the exception, capped near 13° and lost behind the skyline. OrbitalNodes.ai shows you exactly when and where to look, personalised to your exact location.
Observing notesEvening twilight 30–50 min after sunset year-round. Very high — best viewing from Central Park or New Jersey Palisades. Best months: October–February — longest dark windows.
🛰 SEE SATELLITES OVER NEW YORK NOWSATELLITE SPOTTING FROM NEW YORK
When can I see the ISS from New York?
The ISS passes over New York several times per week during twilight — roughly 30-50 minutes after sunset or before sunrise. At 40°N latitude passes reach up to 90° elevation, nearly directly overhead. The best passes track from northwest to southeast giving you nearly 6 minutes of visibility. Use OrbitalNodes for exact times and directions.
Can you see satellites from New York City?
Yes — the ISS at magnitude −4 cuts through Manhattan's light dome easily. It's visible from Times Square if you look up at the right moment. Tiangong and BlueBird-6 are also city-visible. For Hubble, individual Starlinks, or BlueBirds 1-5 (magnitude 3) you'll want Central Park or across the Hudson for darker skies.
What direction should I look for the ISS from NYC?
For overhead passes you need to track across the full sky. The 4-6 minute crossing time gives you plenty of opportunity once you've spotted it.
What's the best spot to see satellites in New York?
Central Park's Great Lawn offers the best in-city option — minimal ground-level lighting and a good open sky. The New Jersey Palisades across the Hudson give noticeably darker skies with the Manhattan skyline as backdrop. Coney Island beach gives a clear southern horizon. For serious satellite watching, head to the Catskills (2 hours north) or Long Island's eastern fork where limiting magnitude improves significantly.
Can I see Starlink trains from New York?
Yes — Starlink trains are visible from NYC during twilight within a few days of each SpaceX launch. Because New York is far from Vandenberg (California) and Cape Canaveral (Florida), the trains appear at different angles depending on launch site. OrbitalNodes automatically detects active trains overhead and shows their direction.
What satellites pass directly over New York City?
The ISS passes nearly overhead at up to 90° elevation — at 40.7°N latitude it's very well placed for ISS tracks at 51.6° inclination. Tiangong also reaches high elevations. Hubble Space Telescope at 28.5° inclination passes over NYC very low — around 15° at best — but is still visible. BlueBirds orbit at various inclinations giving multiple weekly passes.
New York is a primary target market for Reflect Orbital — illuminating one of the world's most iconic skylines would be a major commercial demonstration for EARENDIL-1. OrbitalSolar.ai has full pass predictions for New York →
WHAT'S VISIBLE FROM HERE
New York at 40°N has solid satellite visibility but misses a few — here's the breakdown: