Without a telescope
BarelyOnly on its best passes and from a dark site: magnitude +5.8 at its best, at the limit of the naked eye. Binoculars make it easy.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)
SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)
SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) is a satellite from China, launched on October 25, 2013 from Jiuquan, China. It is in a low orbit, 577 to 601 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 96.5 minutes: 14.9 times a day, at 7.56 km/s (27,200 km/h).
Where SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) 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 SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)…
SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)
Finding SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)…
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Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead between latitudes 75° north and 75° 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)
- 39358
- International designator
- 2013-057A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- China
- Launched
- October 25, 2013
- Launched from
- Jiuquan, China
- Status
- Operational
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 577 km
- Highest point
- 601 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 75.0°
- One lap
- 96.5 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.93
- Speed
- 7.56 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +5.8 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +7.0 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 8.3 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 SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) right now?
The map on this page shows where SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) 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 SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16)?
Between 577 km at its lowest and 601 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) go?
About 7.56 km/s, which is 27,200 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 96.5 minutes, so it goes around 14.9 times a day.
Can you see SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) without a telescope?
Barely. Only on its best passes and from a dark site: magnitude +5.8 at its best, at the limit of the naked eye. Binoculars make it easy.
When was SHIJIAN-16 (SJ-16) launched?
On October 25, 2013, 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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