Without a telescope
Yes, under a dark skyOn a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.3 at its best. City lights hide it.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›COSMOS 2550
COSMOS 2550
COSMOS 2550 is a satellite from Russia (and the former Soviet Union), launched on June 25, 2021 from Plesetsk, Russia. It is in a low orbit, 459 to 470 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 93.9 minutes: 15.3 times a day, at 7.63 km/s (27,500 km/h).
Where COSMOS 2550 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 COSMOS 2550…
COSMOS 2550
Finding COSMOS 2550…
- Over
- …
- Position
- …
- Height
- …
- Speed
- …
- Now
- …
- Your time
- …
Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead only between latitudes 67° north and 67° south, and rises above the horizon as far as about 88°. 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)
- 48865
- International designator
- 2021-056A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- Russia (and the former Soviet Union)
- Launched
- June 25, 2021
- Launched from
- Plesetsk, Russia
- Status
- Operational
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 459 km
- Highest point
- 470 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 67.1°
- One lap
- 93.9 minutes
- Laps a day
- 15.34
- Speed
- 7.63 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +3.3 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +5.0 from 1,000 km, half lit
Orbit measured November 11, 2026, from CelesTrak. Heights are above the ground at the equator. Page updated November 14, 2026.
Quick answers
Where is COSMOS 2550 right now?
The map on this page shows where COSMOS 2550 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 COSMOS 2550?
Between 459 km at its lowest and 470 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does COSMOS 2550 go?
About 7.63 km/s, which is 27,500 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 93.9 minutes, so it goes around 15.3 times a day.
Can you see COSMOS 2550 without a telescope?
Yes, under a dark sky. On a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.3 at its best. City lights hide it.
When was COSMOS 2550 launched?
On June 25, 2021, from Plesetsk, Russia.
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.