Without a telescope
Yes, easilyOn a good pass it is as bright as the brightest stars: magnitude +1.3 at its best.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›ATLAS CENTAUR 2
ATLAS CENTAUR 2
ATLAS CENTAUR 2 is a satellite from the United States, launched on November 27, 1963 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. It is in a low orbit, 456 to 1,243 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 101.9 minutes: 14.1 times a day, at 7.43 km/s (26,700 km/h).
Where ATLAS CENTAUR 2 is right now
The gold ring is its orbit, and the line drops to the point on the ground under it. Inside the white circle it is above the horizon. Drag the globe to turn it, pinch or use the buttons to come closer; the target button brings you back to the satellite. The 2D map shows its path over the ground for the next lap: gold where it is in sunlight, dashed where it is in Earth’s shadow.
Finding ATLAS CENTAUR 2…
ATLAS CENTAUR 2
Finding ATLAS CENTAUR 2…
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- Now
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Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead only between latitudes 30° north and 30° south, and rises above the horizon as far as about 58°. Nearer the poles than that it is never in the sky.
A satellite shows only when your sky is dark and it is still in sunlight: in the hours after dusk and before dawn.
When it passes over you
The app works out its passes over your exact location, alerts you before one, and leads you to it with an arrow in the camera view.
The facts
- Catalogue number (NORAD)
- 694
- International designator
- 1963-047A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- November 27, 1963
- Launched from
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 456 km
- Highest point
- 1,243 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 30.4°
- One lap
- 101.9 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.13
- Speed
- 7.43 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +1.3 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +3.0 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 6.4 m²
Orbit measured November 12, 2026, from CelesTrak. Heights are above the ground at the equator. Page updated November 14, 2026.
Quick answers
Where is ATLAS CENTAUR 2 right now?
The map on this page shows where ATLAS CENTAUR 2 is at this moment, the path it will follow over the ground for the next lap, and the part of the Earth it is above the horizon for. It is worked out from the latest tracking data.
How high is ATLAS CENTAUR 2?
Between 456 km at its lowest and 1,243 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does ATLAS CENTAUR 2 go?
About 7.43 km/s, which is 26,700 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 101.9 minutes, so it goes around 14.1 times a day.
Can you see ATLAS CENTAUR 2 without a telescope?
Yes, easily. On a good pass it is as bright as the brightest stars: magnitude +1.3 at its best.
When was ATLAS CENTAUR 2 launched?
On November 27, 1963, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States.
With the app
Knowing where it is over the Earth is one thing. The app shows you where it is in your sky.
This page follows the satellite around the planet. The app works out when it passes over you, and leads you to it.
- Every pass over your exact location, for this satellite and 10,000+ more.
- An alert before it rises, so you are outside in time.
- An arrow in the camera view that leads you to the exact spot in the sky.
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