Without a telescope
YesOn a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +3.0 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
Satellites›Weather satellites›FENGYUN 3G
FENGYUN 3G
FENGYUN 3G is a weather satellite from China, launched on April 16, 2023 from Jiuquan, China. It is in a low orbit, 399 to 411 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 92.7 minutes: 15.5 times a day, at 7.67 km/s (27,600 km/h).
Where FENGYUN 3G 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 FENGYUN 3G…
FENGYUN 3G
Finding FENGYUN 3G…
- Over
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- Position
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- Height
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- Speed
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- Now
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- Your time
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Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead only between latitudes 50° north and 50° south, and rises above the horizon as far as about 69°. 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)
- 56232
- International designator
- 2023-055A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- China
- Launched
- April 16, 2023
- Launched from
- Jiuquan, China
- Status
- Operational
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 399 km
- Highest point
- 411 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 50.0°
- One lap
- 92.7 minutes
- Laps a day
- 15.54
- Speed
- 7.67 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +3.0 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +5.0 from 1,000 km, half lit
Orbit measured November 13, 2026, from CelesTrak. Heights are above the ground at the equator. Page updated November 14, 2026.
Quick answers
Where is FENGYUN 3G right now?
The map on this page shows where FENGYUN 3G 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 FENGYUN 3G?
Between 399 km at its lowest and 411 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does FENGYUN 3G go?
About 7.67 km/s, which is 27,600 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 92.7 minutes, so it goes around 15.5 times a day.
Can you see FENGYUN 3G without a telescope?
Yes. On a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +3.0 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
When was FENGYUN 3G launched?
On April 16, 2023, from Jiuquan, China.
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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