Without a telescope
BarelyOnly on its best passes and from a dark site: magnitude +4.7 at its best, at the limit of the naked eye. Binoculars make it easy.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)
OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)
OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) is a satellite from the United States, launched on August 21, 1972 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. It is in a low orbit, 688 to 697 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 98.6 minutes: 14.6 times a day, at 7.51 km/s (27,000 km/h).
Where OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) 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 OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)…
OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)
Finding OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)…
- 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 60°. 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)
- 6153
- International designator
- 1972-065A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- August 21, 1972
- Launched from
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 688 km
- Highest point
- 697 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 35.0°
- One lap
- 98.6 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.60
- Speed
- 7.51 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +4.7 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +5.5 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 OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) right now?
The map on this page shows where OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) 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 OAO 3 (COPERNICUS)?
Between 688 km at its lowest and 697 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) go?
About 7.51 km/s, which is 27,000 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 98.6 minutes, so it goes around 14.6 times a day.
Can you see OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) without a telescope?
Barely. Only on its best passes and from a dark site: magnitude +4.7 at its best, at the limit of the naked eye. Binoculars make it easy.
When was OAO 3 (COPERNICUS) 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.