ISS Over Langfang Tonight

The next pass of the International Space Station over Langfang, China will be visible to the naked eye on Friday 25 September at 18:46 GMT+8. It rises in the northwest and reaches a maximum elevation of 22 degrees above the horizon, a lower pass that may be partly blocked by buildings or trees. The pass lasts about 7 min 10 sec. Look up and you should see a steady, bright white point of light moving smoothly across the sky.

Next visible ISS passes over Langfang

When (local time)DirectionMax elevationVisible forBrightness
Friday 25 September
18:46 GMT+8
NWE22°Fair7 min 10 secModeratemag -1.6
Friday 25 September
20:22 GMT+8
WNWSE53°Very good3 min 40 secFaintmag -0.1
Saturday 26 September
19:35 GMT+8
NWSE84°Excellent5 min 30 secVery brightmag -3.4
Sunday 27 September
18:47 GMT+8
NWESE48°Very good7 min 40 secBrightmag -2.9
Sunday 27 September
20:24 GMT+8
WNWSSE17°Fair3 min 30 secFaintmag 0.4
Monday 28 September
19:36 GMT+8
WNWSSE30°Good6 min 10 secModeratemag -1.5
Tuesday 29 September
18:48 GMT+8
NWSE54°Very good8 min 30 secBrightmag -2.5
Thursday 1 October
18:50 GMT+8
WNWSSE18°Fair9 min 30 secFaintmag -0.4

Showing the next 8 naked-eye visible passes over Langfang, in local time (Asia/Shanghai). A more negative magnitude is a brighter pass.

Can you see the ISS from Langfang?

Yes. The International Space Station is visible from Langfang several times a month, whenever it passes overhead during the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise while it is still catching sunlight against a dark sky. No telescope is needed; the station is one of the brightest objects in the night sky and is easily seen with the unaided eye. Your next good opportunity from Langfang is on Friday 25 September at around 18:51 GMT+8, when the station climbs to 22 degrees above the horizon.

About the International Space Station

The International Space Station is the largest human-made structure in orbit, about the size of a football pitch and weighing roughly 420 tonnes. It circles the Earth at an altitude of around 420 kilometres and a speed of about 28,000 kilometres per hour, completing one orbit roughly every 90 minutes. That means the crew on board see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.

Because the station is so large and its solar panels are so reflective, it shines by reflected sunlight and can become one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It is visible from the ground without any equipment whenever it passes overhead during twilight, when the observer is in darkness but the station high above is still bathed in sunlight.

How to spot the ISS from Langfang

Find a spot with a clear view of the sky and as little light pollution as possible. A few minutes before the pass time listed above, look towards the rising direction shown for the pass. You do not need a telescope or binoculars; the station is easily bright enough to see with your eyes alone.

The ISS appears as a steady, bright point of light that glides smoothly across the sky. Unlike an aircraft it has no flashing or coloured lights. A pass lasts only a few minutes, and the station may suddenly fade and disappear partway across the sky as it crosses into the Earth’s shadow, so be ready and keep watching.

Frequently asked questions

When can I see the ISS from Langfang?
The next pass over Langfang is on Friday 25 September at 18:46 GMT+8, rising in the northwest. The best times to look are during the dark hours just after dusk and just before dawn, when the station is lit by the Sun while the sky around you is dark.
Which direction does the ISS appear from in Langfang?
The International Space Station can rise from any point along the horizon, but most visible passes over Langfang begin in the western half of the sky and travel towards the east. Each pass on this page lists the exact rise and set directions.
How bright is the ISS over Langfang?
During a high pass the ISS can reach magnitude -3 to -4, brighter than any star or planet. It looks like a steady white dot moving across the sky over a few minutes. It does not blink or have coloured lights, which is how you tell it apart from an aircraft.
Do I need a telescope to see the ISS from Langfang?
No. The ISS is easily visible to the naked eye from Langfang. A telescope or binoculars are not needed and actually make it harder to follow because the station moves quickly across the sky.

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