Satellites Visible from Washington
Tonight
Satellite viewing from Washington on the night of 24 August 2026 is rated POOR NIGHT: 3 visible ISS, Tiangong or Hubble passes, the best reaching 18° above the horizon. The best window for satellite spotting over Washington on 24 August 2026 is 09:55–11:34 and 17:34–19:39 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 Washington on 24 August 2026 starts at 17:34 EDT, rises in the NNE, peaks 16° above the horizon and sets in the NNE, lasting about 1 minute.
At 9pm local on 24 August 2026 from Washington, Mars is in the east-southeast, high up, about 6 fists up, Jupiter is in the east, about 3 fists up and Saturn is in the west-southwest, about 3 fists up. Planets shine with a steady light, unlike satellites, which cross the sky in a few minutes.
Washington (38.9°N) — a mid-latitude position that gets frequent, favourably-angled passes year-round.
Washington sits at 38.9°N, well inside the ISS's 51.6° inclination, so the station passes directly overhead at up to 90°. This mid latitude carries Tiangong directly overhead at up to 90°, though Hubble stays low at about 19°. The District is Bortle 8–9, so the ISS, Hubble, Tiangong, bright planets and Starlink trains are what show through the glow.
Evening twilight stretches very late in midsummer. Best months: autumn and winter (October–March), when the humid Mid-Atlantic summer eases and dry Canadian high-pressure systems bring the clearest nights. July and August humidity is the enemy of a steady pass.
🛰 SEE SATELLITES OVER WASHINGTON NOWSATELLITE SPOTTING FROM WASHINGTON
When can I see the ISS from Washington?
The ISS is visible during twilight, and at 38.9°N it can climb almost overhead — up to 90° elevation. At magnitude −4 it's easily visible over the city. Washington runs on EST, so clocks shift between winter and summer. The one exception is high summer: from late May to mid-July the sky barely darkens enough for a clear pass.
What satellites are visible from Washington?
Washington can see the ISS (magnitude −4), China's Tiangong, the Hubble Space Telescope (only about 19°, low in the south), AST BlueBirds, and Starlink trains after a fresh launch. Hubble sits lower here than at European latitudes, so it clears the murk near the horizon.
Where is the best place to watch satellites in Washington?
In the city, Rock Creek Park gives the best open sky away from the brightest streets. For darker conditions, head out to Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls (around 35km NW), Sky Meadows State Park (around 90km W, Bortle 4), or Shenandoah National Park for genuinely dark skies about two hours out.
Can I see satellites from central Washington?
Yes for the ISS and Tiangong — they cut through the city glow from any open spot like the National Mall or a Potomac overlook. For BlueBirds and Starlink trains, head out to the C&O Canal, the Arboretum or Sky Meadows State Park.
Does Washington's latitude help?
At 38.9°N Washington sits just under the ISS's 51.6° inclination, so passes can climb almost overhead (90°) — better geometry than London or Berlin. The trade-off is Washington's summer humidity and haze rather than darkness — full astronomical night arrives here all year.
What is the best season for satellite spotting in Washington?
September through March for the long dark nights, with the clearest transparency in crisp dry-season high pressure. June is the weakest month simply because the nights are short — and November to January can be persistently grey.
Washington is the cultural origin of the orbital-mirror concept and sits in the coverage zone for EARENDIL-1, Reflect Orbital's first commercial space mirror. Track space-mirror passes on OrbitalSolar.ai →
WHAT'S VISIBLE FROM HERE
From Washington (38.9°N) you have access to a wide range of satellites: