EarthBrowserLive · Satellite · NORAD 25977
Where is Helios 1b right now?
Helios 1b, launched in 1999, is in low Earth orbit 602–604 km up, circling Earth every 97 minutes. Its position below updates every second from the latest orbital elements.
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Loading live position…
The full globe adds thousands of other satellites, the ground track for the coming orbits, and the sun’s terminator so you can see where it is in daylight.
When will Helios 1b pass over me?
Orbit
| Orbit type | LEO · low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 602 km perigee · 604 km apogee |
| Period | 96.8 minutes · 14.88 orbits per day |
| Inclination | 98.2°, so it passes over latitudes up to about 82° N and S |
| Eccentricity | 0.0002 (near-circular) |
| Launched | 1999 · launch 1999-064, object A |
| Catalog | NORAD 25977 · International designator 1999-064A |
| Elements epoch | Nov 9, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
How fast does Helios 1b travel?
Its speed follows from its orbit: one revolution every 97 minutes. Low-orbit satellites move at roughly 7.5 km per second (27,000 km/h); the higher the orbit, the slower the satellite. The live strip above shows the current ground speed.
Can I see Helios 1b from the ground?
Usually only with binoculars or a camera. Small satellites are faint; the pass predictor above marks passes where the geometry is right (dark sky, sunlit satellite), but a dark site and knowing exactly where to look matter.
Why does the position keep moving across the map?
The satellite moves several kilometers every second while Earth rotates underneath it, so each orbit’s ground track lands west of the last one. The orbit itself is fixed in space; the map shows where it is above the turning Earth.
Where does the live position come from?
From the object’s published orbital elements (NORAD general perturbations data via CelesTrak), propagated with the SGP4 model in your browser. The same data drives the satellite layer on the EarthBrowser globe. Elements are refreshed daily, which keeps positions good to a few kilometers.