Satellite Passes Tonight — Des Moines, WA
Live satellite pass predictions for Des Moines, Washington. Updated in real time.
Tonight's Visible Passes
Predictions computed at 1:10 PM. Times shown in local time.
Full Pass Predictions
Interactive predictions with weather, viewing conditions, and more satellites.
Tonight
🛰️ Satellite Passes
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Satellite Watching in Des Moines
Best Viewing Season
Summer (July–September)
Weather Conditions
The PNW is famously cloudy from October through June. Summer offers a dramatic improvement with long, clear evenings. The rain shadow east of the Cascades is significantly clearer year-round.
Light Pollution
Des Moines has a Bortle class of 6 (suburban skies — ISS and bright satellites visible). The Pacific Northwest region averages about 75 clear nights per year.
Launch Visibility
Not visible from the Pacific Northwest.
Not typically visible, though very powerful launches heading south from Vandenberg have produced visible exhaust plumes in southern Oregon during twilight.
Viewing Tips for Des Moines
Summer is prime time — the long twilights extend the satellite viewing window. Eastern Oregon and Washington (Goldendale, John Day) offer far clearer and darker skies than the wet west side.
Best Time to Watch
Check for passes during the first 2 hours after sunset or before sunrise. This is when satellites catch sunlight against a dark sky.
What to Look For
Satellites look like steady, bright stars moving smoothly across the sky. They don't blink like airplanes.