Without a telescope
Yes, under a dark skyOn a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.1 at its best. City lights hide it.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›SL-16 rocket body (17590)
SL-16 rocket body (17590)
SL-16 rocket body (17590) is a spent rocket stage from Russia (and the former Soviet Union), launched on March 18, 1987 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It is in a low orbit, 835 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 101.6 minutes: 14.2 times a day, at 7.43 km/s (26,700 km/h).
Where SL-16 rocket body (17590) 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 SL-16 rocket body (17590)…
SL-16 rocket body (17590)
Finding SL-16 rocket body (17590)…
- Over
- …
- Position
- …
- Height
- …
- Speed
- …
- Now
- …
- Your time
- …
Can you see it?
From where
It passes straight overhead between latitudes 71° north and 71° 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)
- 17590
- International designator
- 1987-027B
- Name in the catalogue
- SL-16 R/B
- Type
- Spent rocket stage
- Belongs to
- Russia (and the former Soviet Union)
- Launched
- March 18, 1987
- Launched from
- Baikonur, Kazakhstan
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit
- Lowest point
- 833 km
- Highest point
- 837 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 71.0°
- One lap
- 101.6 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.17
- Speed
- 7.43 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +3.1 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +3.5 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 8.5 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 SL-16 rocket body (17590) right now?
The map on this page shows where SL-16 rocket body (17590) 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 SL-16 rocket body (17590)?
About 835 km above the ground.
How fast does SL-16 rocket body (17590) go?
About 7.43 km/s, which is 26,700 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 101.6 minutes, so it goes around 14.2 times a day.
Can you see SL-16 rocket body (17590) without a telescope?
Yes, under a dark sky. On a good pass it is a faint star to the naked eye: magnitude +3.1 at its best. City lights hide it.
When was SL-16 rocket body (17590) launched?
On March 18, 1987, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
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.