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›TDRS 12
TDRS 12
TDRS 12 is a satellite from the United States, launched on January 24, 2014 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States. It is in geostationary orbit, 35,785 km above the equator at longitude 41.1° W. There it goes around once a day, in step with the turning Earth, and so it stays over the same spot.
Where TDRS 12 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 TDRS 12…
TDRS 12
Finding TDRS 12…
- Over
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- Position
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- Height
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- Speed
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- 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 41.1° W on the equator, and always in the same place in 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)
- 39504
- International designator
- 2014-004A
- Type
- Satellite
- Belongs to
- United States
- Launched
- January 24, 2014
- Launched from
- Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
- Status
- Operational
- Orbit
- Geostationary
- Over longitude
- 41.1° W
- Lowest point
- 35,756 km
- Highest point
- 35,813 km
- Tilt to the equator
- 4.1°
- One lap
- 23 h 56 min
- Laps a day
- 1.00
- Speed
- 3.07 km/s
- At its brightest
- mag +14.9 estimated, overhead
- Standard brightness
- mag +7.1 from 1,000 km, half lit
- Size on radar
- 7.9 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 TDRS 12 right now?
TDRS 12 stays over longitude 41.1° 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 TDRS 12?
About 35,785 km above the ground.
How fast does TDRS 12 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 TDRS 12 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 TDRS 12 launched?
On January 24, 2014, 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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