EarthBrowserLive · Satellite · NORAD 27422
Where is Idefix & Ariane 42p R/B right now?
Idefix & Ariane 42p R/B, launched in 2002, is in low Earth orbit 780–796 km up, circling Earth every 101 minutes. Its position below updates every second from the latest orbital elements.
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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 Idefix & Ariane 42p R/B pass over me?
Orbit
| Orbit type | LEO · low Earth orbit |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 780 km perigee · 796 km apogee |
| Period | 100.6 minutes · 14.31 orbits per day |
| Inclination | 98.6°, so it passes over latitudes up to about 81° N and S |
| Eccentricity | 0.0012 (near-circular) |
| Launched | 2002 · launch 2002-021, object B |
| Catalog | NORAD 27422 · International designator 2002-021B |
| Elements epoch | Nov 9, 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
How fast does Idefix & Ariane 42p R/B travel?
Its speed follows from its orbit: one revolution every 101 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 Idefix & Ariane 42p R/B from the ground?
Often, yes. It is large or reflective enough to show as a moving star when your sky is dark and the satellite is still in sunlight, which happens within a couple of hours of sunset or sunrise. Use the pass predictor above.
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.