ISS pass times · South Africa
When is the ISS visible over Cape Town?
Find the next visible passes over Cape Town, South Africa, in local time. See when to step outside, which direction to look, and how high the station climbs. Visibility depends on a clear sky and a sunlit station.
Next visible passes over Cape Town
Local time · Africa/Johannesburg · Clear skies required
YOUR BEST PASS IN THE NEXT 7 DAYS
Monday, Oct 26
Step outside 5 minutes early. Look SW, then follow the light toward ESE.
72° above the horizon · About 3 minutes visible
Chosen using height, duration and brightness. Weather isn't available for every candidate; check the clouds before you go.
Shared links use an approximate area, rounded to about 10 km.
| When to look | Direction | Max height | Visible for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Oct 21 | S → S | 11° | 1 min |
| Thu, Oct 22 | S → SSE | 11° | 1 min |
| Fri, Oct 23 | SSW → SSW | 19° | 1 min |
| Sat, Oct 24 | SSW → SE | 23° | 3 min |
| Sun, Oct 25 | S → ESE | 16° | 4 min |
Calculated Oct 20, 2:28 AM GMT+2. Predictions farther ahead can change after orbital adjustments. Check again on the day.
Viewing from Cape Town
At 33.9° latitude, Cape Town gets a healthy mix of ISS passes — from low arcs along the horizon to spectacular near-overhead crossings. High passes here can outshine everything in the night sky except the Moon.
How to read the pass times
Each pass shows its start time in Cape Town local time, the compass direction it travels (for example W→SE means it rises in the west and sets in the southeast), its maximum height above the horizon, and how long it stays visible. Higher passes are usually easier to see above buildings and trees. No telescope is needed. New to this? Read our guide to seeing the ISS or watch the station's position right now on the live tracker.