# Visible Satellite question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341 "2010-08-15T18:13:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/1 "2010-08-15T18:13:41Z")
Looking up into the cloudy sky above the English East Midlands at about 10.45 BST last night we failed to see any of the Perseids but we did see a satellite\* which was visible to us for about 10-15 seconds. Why could we see it ? I mean why was it visible ? It couldn’t have it’s own light source - so is it sunlight reflecting ? Wouldn’t the Earth be in the way ? could it be moonlight ? Thanks \*white “dot” travelling in straight line faster than a plane, no blinking lights, not twinkling like a star, visible for longer than a shooting star and without the" tail". ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/2 "2010-08-15T18:17:44Z")
The earth is in the way for most of a satellites time in orbit (or it’s too bright put to see, being day), however, for a while in their orbit, satellites can catch the sun, either through earths atmosphere or usually around it, and shine. How can you tell a (visible) satellite is in disrepair (likely irreparably)? It sparkles, meaning it’s tumbling in it’s orbit. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/3 "2010-08-15T18:20:34Z")
This is actually a pretty common phenomenon, I believe. They’re often visible against a dark night. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/4 "2010-08-15T18:26:12Z")
Yes It reflects sunlight, I have an IPod app that shows what satellites are visible in my local area- tomorrow it lists 8 This [site](http://spaceweather.com/flybys/country.php) will list what is visible in your area ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/5 "2010-08-15T18:40:13Z")
> [@CWN](#): > > Yes It reflects sunlight, I have an IPod app that shows what satellites are visible in my local area- tomorrow it lists 8 > This [site](http://spaceweather.com/flybys/country.php) will list what is visible in your area It’s no different really to the Moon. Sometimes it’s blocked from the Sun by the Earth, sometimes sunlight can get to it. Here’s another cool site: > **[Heavens-Above](https://www.heavens-above.com/main.aspx)** > > Satellite predictions and other astronomical data customised for your location. Fun fact: look at the “Iridium flare” section. You can see some of these even in daylight. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/6 "2010-08-15T18:44:30Z")
Brilliant ! - Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![Ponster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponster/32/17081_2.png) [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/7 "2010-08-15T18:45:28Z")
[Thread Hijack] Is it possible to see a satellite travel between us and the moon and see it as a black dot ? [/Thread Hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/8 "2010-08-15T21:01:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Is it possible to see a satellite travel between us and the moon and see it as a black dot ? Probably in principle, though you’d have to know exactly when and where to look. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visible-satellite-question/550341/9 "2010-08-15T22:29:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Probably in principle, though you’d have to know exactly when and where to look. You wouldn’t be able to see it with bare eyes. The albedo of the Moon would overwhelm the occluded aspect of the satellite. You may be able to see it with a low power telescope if it was shadowed by the Earth. Stranger