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
USA 338	53883	2022-117A	September 24, 2022	92.7
USA 308	45876	2020-046D	July 15, 2020	94.5
USA 307	45875	2020-046C	July 15, 2020	94.6
USA 306	45874	2020-046B	July 15, 2020	94.8
USA 305	45873	2020-046A	July 15, 2020	94.5
IGS R-6	43495	2018-052A	June 12, 2018	94.4	0
IGS O-6	43223	2018-021A	February 27, 2018	94.3	0
USA 276	42689	2017-022A	May 1, 2017	91.9	0
H-2A R/B	41941	2017-005B	January 24, 2017	617.4	0
PSLV R/B	41470	2016-027B	April 28, 2016	347.1	0
GPM	39574	2014-009C	February 27, 2014	93.3	4.5
KOMPSAT 5	39227	2013-042A	August 22, 2013	95.7	5.5
CZ-4C R/B	39211	2013-037D	July 19, 2013	94.6	4.5
PSLV R/B	39200	2013-034B	July 1, 2013	328.7	5
ATLAS CENTAUR R/B	38770	2012-048N	September 13, 2012	94.3	3.5
H-2A R/B	33500	2009-002J	January 23, 2009	96.2	3.5
SAR LUPE 2	31797	2007-030A	July 2, 2007	94.2	0
CZ-4 R/B	29507	2006-046C	October 23, 2006	95.3	3.5
USA 186	28888	2005-042A	October 19, 2005	92.4	0
TITAN 4B R/B	28647	2005-016B	April 30, 2005	94.4	3.5
BREEZE-M DEB (TANK)	28116	2003-056E	December 10, 2003	321.1	4.5
ENVISAT	27386	2002-009A	March 1, 2002	100.1	4.5
TITAN 4B R/B	26474	2000-047B	August 17, 2000	95.7	3.5
SL-16 R/B	25861	1999-039B	July 17, 1999	97.3	3.5
OKEAN O	25860	1999-039A	July 17, 1999	97.4	4.5
CZ-4B R/B	25732	1999-025C	May 10, 1999	101.5	5
SL-16 R/B	25407	1998-045B	July 28, 1998	101.7	3.5
SL-16 R/B	25400	1998-043G	July 10, 1998	101	3.5
ORBVIEW 2 (SEASTAR)	24883	1997-037A	August 1, 1997	100.4	6
SL-16 R/B	24298	1996-051B	September 4, 1996	102	3.5
SL-16 R/B	23705	1995-058B	October 31, 1995	101.7	3.5
ARIANE 40+ R/B	23561	1995-021B	April 21, 1995	100.1	4.5

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