BRIGHTEST SATELLITES

Satellites are visible when the sky is dark and the satellite is able to reflect sunlight back to the observer. These conditions generally occur up to about 45 minutes before sunrise (before the sky becomes too light) and 45 minutes after sunset. These satellites (or objects) are normally brighter than magnitude 4. If your latitude is close to or below the inclination of a given sat, it will be potentially visible at your location.

The table is sortable. Please click on the header for ascending/descending sorting. To see all satellites in this category on a single page (it may crash your browser), click here.

Name	NORAD ID	Int'l Code	Launch date	Period [minutes]	Magnitude
ISIS 1	3669	1969-009A	January 30, 1969	127.4	9
SERT 2	4327	1970-009A	February 4, 1970	106	6.5
ATLAS CENTAUR 2 R/B	694	1963-047A	November 27, 1963	102.1	3.5
SL-16 R/B	16182	1985-097B	October 22, 1985	101.7	4
SL-12 R/B(2)	15772	1985-042D	May 30, 1985	101.3	5
IDEFIX/ARIANE 42P	27422	2002-021B	May 4, 2002	100.6	4.5
IDEFIX/ARIANE 42P	27422	2002-021B	May 4, 2002	100.6	4.5
IDEFIX/ARIANE 42P	27422	2002-021B	May 4, 2002	100.6	4.5
IDEFIX/ARIANE 42P	27422	2002-021B	May 4, 2002	100.6	4.5
SL-8 R/B	5730	1971-119B	December 27, 1971	100.6	5
THOR AGENA D R/B	733	1964-002A	January 19, 1964	100.4	5
SL-8 R/B	15483	1985-006B	January 17, 1985	100.2	5.5
SL-8 R/B	8459	1975-112B	November 28, 1975	100.1	6
SL-8 R/B	11574	1979-089B	October 11, 1979	99.9	5
SL-8 R/B	2802	1967-045B	May 15, 1967	99.6	5.5
SEASAT 1	10967	1978-064A	June 27, 1978	99.6	4
OAO 2	3597	1968-110A	December 7, 1968	99.5	6.5
ASTEX 1	5560	1971-089A	October 17, 1971	99.3	5
OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)	6153	1972-065A	August 21, 1972	98.7	6
SL-3 R/B	877	1964-053B	August 28, 1964	98.6	5
ATLAS CENTAUR R/B	6155	1972-065B	August 21, 1972	97.5	5
SL-14 R/B	16792	1986-046B	June 12, 1986	97	5.5
SL-14 R/B	16882	1986-055B	July 28, 1986	97	5.5
SL-14 R/B	14820	1984-027B	March 15, 1984	96.9	5.5
SL-14 R/B	15945	1985-069B	August 8, 1985	96.9	5.5
SL-14 R/B	16496	1986-006B	January 17, 1986	96.9	5.5
SL-14 R/B	11267	1979-011B	February 12, 1979	96.6	5.5
SL-14 R/B	11672	1980-005B	January 23, 1980	96.6	5
SL-8 R/B	12139	1981-003B	January 16, 1981	96.1	5
SL-8 R/B	3230	1968-040B	May 7, 1968	95.9	6
SL-3 R/B	13154	1982-039B	May 5, 1982	95.5	5.5
SL-3 R/B	12904	1981-103B	October 13, 1981	94.9	5
SL-3 R/B	13068	1982-013B	February 19, 1982	94.8	5
COSMOS 1536	14699	1984-013A	February 8, 1984	94.8	5
SL-3 R/B	13403	1982-079B	August 5, 1982	94.7	5
SL-3 R/B	14208	1983-075B	July 24, 1983	94	5
SL-3 R/B	12465	1981-046B	May 19, 1981	93.8	5
SL-3 R/B	10114	1977-057B	June 29, 1977	93.6	5.5
SL-3 R/B	13819	1983-010B	February 16, 1983	93.6	5.5
SL-3 R/B	5118	1971-028B	April 7, 1971	93.3	5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
SPACE STATION	25544	1998-067A	November 20, 1998	92.9	-0.5
METEOR PRIRODA	12585	1981-065A	July 10, 1981	92	6
COSMOS 1500	14372	1983-099A	September 28, 1983	90.5	5.5
COSMOS 482 DESCENT CRAFT	6073	1972-023E	March 31, 1972	88.1	6.5