Without a telescope
YesOn a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +1.9 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
Satellites›Brightest satellites›SL-16 rocket body (25861)
SL-16 rocket body (25861)
SL-16 rocket body (25861) is a spent rocket stage from Russia (and the former Soviet Union), launched on July 17, 1999 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It is in a low orbit, 613 to 634 km above the ground, and goes around the Earth every 97.2 minutes: 14.8 times a day, at 7.55 km/s (27,200 km/h). The orbit is sun-synchronous: it crosses every place at about the same local time of day.
Where SL-16 rocket body (25861) 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 (25861)…
SL-16 rocket body (25861)
Finding SL-16 rocket body (25861)…
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Can you see it?
From where
Its orbit crosses close to both poles, so sooner or later it passes over every place 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)
- 25861
- International designator
- 1999-039B
- Name in the catalogue
- SL-16 R/B
- Type
- Spent rocket stage
- Belongs to
- Russia (and the former Soviet Union)
- Launched
- July 17, 1999
- Launched from
- Baikonur, Kazakhstan
- Orbit
- Low Earth orbit, sun-synchronous
- Lowest point
- 613 km
- Highest point
- 634 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 98.0°
- One lap
- 97.2 minutes
- Laps a day
- 14.82
- Speed
- 7.55 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +1.9 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +3.0 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 12 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 (25861) right now?
The map on this page shows where SL-16 rocket body (25861) 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 (25861)?
Between 613 km at its lowest and 634 km at its highest, above the ground.
How fast does SL-16 rocket body (25861) go?
About 7.55 km/s, which is 27,200 km/h. One lap of the Earth takes it 97.2 minutes, so it goes around 14.8 times a day.
Can you see SL-16 rocket body (25861) without a telescope?
Yes. On a good pass it is about as bright as the stars of the Big Dipper: magnitude +1.9 at its best. It can be seen even from a town.
When was SL-16 rocket body (25861) launched?
On July 17, 1999, 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.
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