Without a telescope
YesOn a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +2.8 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›Seasat
Seasat
Seasat is a satellite from the United States, launched on June 27, 1978 from Vandenberg, California, United States. It is in a low orbit, 738 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 99.6 minutes: 14.5 times a day, at 7.48 km/s (26,900 km/h).
Where Seasat 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 Seasat…
Seasat
Finding Seasat…
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About Seasat
The first satellite built to study the oceans by radar, launched by NASA in June 1978. An electrical failure ended its mission after 105 days, but in that time it proved radar from orbit could map waves, winds and sea ice. It has been circling ever since, and its big radar antenna still catches the sunlight.
Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead between latitudes 72° north and 72° south, and it rises above the horizon everywhere on Earth.
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)
- 10967
- International designator
- 1978-064A
- Name in the catalogue
- SEASAT 1
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- June 27, 1978
- Launched from
- Vandenberg, California, United States
- Status
- Not operational
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 736 km
- Highest point
- 740 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 108.0°
- One lap
- 99.6 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.46
- Speed
- 7.48 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +2.8 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +3.5 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 9.4 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 Seasat right now?
The map on this page shows where Seasat 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 Seasat?
About 738 km above the ground.
How fast does Seasat go?
About 7.48 km/s, which is 26,900 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 99.6 minutes, so it goes around 14.5 times a day.
Can you see Seasat without a telescope?
Yes. On a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +2.8 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
When was Seasat launched?
On June 27, 1978, from Vandenberg, California, 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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