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
SL-16 R/B	23405	1994-077B	November 24, 1994	101.7	3.5
SL-16 R/B	23343	1994-074B	November 4, 1994	97.4	3.5
SL-16 R/B	23088	1994-023B	April 23, 1994	101.8	3.5
COSMOS 2278	23087	1994-023A	April 23, 1994	101.8	5
ARIANE 40 R/B	22830	1993-061H	September 26, 1993	100.5	5
SL-16 R/B	22803	1993-059B	September 16, 1993	101.6	3.5
COSMOS 2242	22626	1993-024A	April 16, 1993	96.4	5
SL-16 R/B	22566	1993-016B	March 26, 1993	101.8	3.5
COSMOS 2228	22286	1992-094A	December 25, 1992	96.4	5
SL-16 R/B	22285	1992-093B	December 25, 1992	101.7	3.5
SL-16 R/B	22220	1992-076B	November 17, 1992	101.6	3.5
SL-8 R/B	21938	1992-020B	April 15, 1992	104.7	5
SL-8 R/B	21876	1992-008B	February 17, 1992	104.7	5.5
SL-14 R/B	21820	1991-086B	December 18, 1991	120.4	5.5
INTERCOSMOS 25	21819	1991-086A	December 18, 1991	119	5.5
ARIANE 40 R/B	21610	1991-050F	July 17, 1991	99.8	4.5
ERS 1	21574	1991-050A	July 17, 1991	100.1	6
SL-14 R/B	21423	1991-042B	June 13, 1991	97.2	5.5
COSMOS 2151	21422	1991-042A	June 13, 1991	96.2	5
OKEAN 3	21397	1991-039A	June 4, 1991	96	5.5
SL-8 R/B	21088	1991-006B	January 29, 1991	104.5	5
SL-8 R/B	20775	1990-078B	August 28, 1990	98.1	5
SL-6 R/B(2)	20666	1990-055D	June 21, 1990	96	5.5
COSMOS 2084	20663	1990-055A	June 21, 1990	95.9	5.5
SL-16 R/B	20625	1990-046B	May 22, 1990	101.8	3.5
HST	20580	1990-037B	April 24, 1990	94.7	3
SL-14 R/B	20511	1990-018B	February 28, 1990	97.2	5
SL-14 R/B	20466	1990-010B	January 30, 1990	97.1	5
COSMOS 2058	20465	1990-010A	January 30, 1990	95.6	5
DELTA 2 R/B(1)	20453	1990-008B	January 24, 1990	94.8	5.5
DELTA 1 R/B	20323	1989-089B	November 18, 1989	99.3	5.5
SL-14 R/B	20262	1989-080C	September 28, 1989	115.2	6.5
INTERCOSMOS 24	20261	1989-080A	September 28, 1989	114.4	6
SL-16 R/B	19650	1988-102B	November 23, 1988	101.7	3.5
SL-14 R/B	19574	1988-093B	October 11, 1988	97	5
COSMOS 1975	19573	1988-093A	October 11, 1988	94.8	5
SL-8 R/B	19257	1988-053B	June 21, 1988	100.1	5.5
COSMOS 1953	19210	1988-050A	June 14, 1988	94.8	4.5
SL-16 R/B	19120	1988-039B	May 15, 1988	101.4	3.5
SL-3 R/B	19046	1988-032B	April 20, 1988	95.2	5
COSMOS 1933	18958	1988-020A	March 15, 1988	95.2	5.5
SL-14 R/B	18749	1988-001B	January 6, 1988	97	5.5
COSMOS 1867	18187	1987-060A	July 10, 1987	100.6	5
SL-14 R/B	18153	1987-055B	July 1, 1987	97	5.5
COSMOS 1844	17973	1987-041A	May 13, 1987	101.8	5
SL-14 R/B	17912	1987-038B	April 27, 1987	97	5.5
SL-16 R/B	17590	1987-027B	March 18, 1987	101.6	4
COSMOS 1833	17589	1987-027A	March 18, 1987	101.9	5.5
SL-14 R/B	17567	1987-024B	March 3, 1987	96.9	5.5
COSMOS 1812	17295	1987-003A	January 14, 1987	93.5	5

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