Without a telescope
Not without a telescopeAt that distance even a satellite the size of a bus is far too faint for the naked eye. In a telescope it is a faint point that stays put while the stars drift past it.
Satellites›Geostationary satellites›SDO
SDO
SDO is a satellite from the United States, launched on February 11, 2010 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. It goes around once a day, in step with the turning Earth, about 35,787 km up, near longitude 106.8° W. Its orbit is tilted 35° to the equator, so instead of hanging still it drifts north and south of the same spot each day.
Where SDO is
The gold ring is its orbit, and the line drops to the point on the equator it stays over. Inside the white circle it is above the horizon, all day and all night. 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 the same on a flat map.
Finding SDO…
SDO
Finding SDO…
- Over
- …
- Position
- …
- Height
- …
- Speed
- …
- Now
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- Your time
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Can you see it?
From where
It is above the horizon all day and all night for everyone within about 81° of longitude 106.8° W on the equator, and always in the same part of their sky. From the rest of the world it never rises.
When it passes over you
The app shows where it sits in your own sky, and leads your telescope or your eye to the spot.
The facts
- Catalogue number (NORAD)
- 36395
- International designator
- 2010-005A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- February 11, 2010
- Launched from
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Status
- Operational
- Orbit
- Geosynchronous, inclined
- Over longitude
- 106.8° W
- Lowest point
- 35,782 km
- Highest point
- 35,791 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 35.0°
- One lap
- 23 h 56 min
- Laps a day
- 1.00
- Speed
- 3.07 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +15.3 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +7.5 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 5.2 m²
Orbit measured November 13, 2026, from CelesTrak. Heights are above the ground at the equator. Page updated November 14, 2026.
Quick answers
Where is SDO right now?
SDO stays over longitude 106.8° W, on the equator. The map on this page shows the spot, and the part of the Earth it can be seen from.
How high is SDO?
About 35,787 km above the ground.
How fast does SDO go?
About 3.07 km/s, which is 11,100 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 23 h 56 min, the same time the Earth takes to turn once.
Can you see SDO without a telescope?
Not without a telescope. At that distance even a satellite the size of a bus is far too faint for the naked eye. In a telescope it is a faint point that stays put while the stars drift past it.
When was SDO launched?
On February 11, 2010, 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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