Without a telescope
Yes, under a dark skyOn a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.4 at its best. City lights hide it.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body
ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body
ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body is a spent rocket stage from the United States, launched on August 21, 1972 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. It is in a low orbit, 611 to 659 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 97.4 minutes: 14.8 times a day, at 7.54 km/s (27,100 km/h).
Where ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body 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 rocket body…
ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body
Finding ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body…
- Over
- …
- Position
- …
- Height
- …
- Speed
- …
- Now
- …
- Your time
- …
Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead only between latitudes 35° north and 35° south, and rises above the horizon as far as about 59°. 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)
- 6155
- International designator
- 1972-065B
- Name in the catalogue
- ATLAS CENTAUR R/B
- Type
- Spent rocket stage
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- August 21, 1972
- Launched from
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 611 km
- Highest point
- 659 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 35.0°
- One lap
- 97.4 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.78
- Speed
- 7.54 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +3.4 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +4.5 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 12 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 rocket body right now?
The map on this page shows where ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body 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 rocket body?
Between 611 km at its lowest and 659 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body go?
About 7.54 km/s, which is 27,100 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 97.4 minutes, so it goes around 14.8 times a day.
Can you see ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body without a telescope?
Yes, under a dark sky. On a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.4 at its best. City lights hide it.
When was ATLAS CENTAUR rocket body launched?
On August 21, 1972, 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.
- Starlink trains, Tiangong, Hubble and the brightest satellites of tonight.