Introduction
Satellites are found in all sizes, and the smallest one can be compared to a loaf of bread. So, have you ever wondered if you can see satellites through a telescope? Or maybe if the satellites can be seen with the naked eye? Numerous spacecraft are orbiting around our planet, and several of those in low earth orbit are bright enough to be seen.
Satellites
According to NASA, a satellite is defined as an object that travels around a different, bigger object. By this definition, Earth is a satellite, as it floats around the Sun. The same goes for the Moon, as it floats around Earth.
However, when a person refers to a satellite, they most likely mean a satellite machine created by humans, a machine that is launched into space and orbit Earth and other bodies.
When observing the sky without a telescope, it is difficult to tell which are merely stars, and which are other celestial bodies. A “star” moving across the sky without a red flashing light is most probably an airplane. Oftentimes, there will be a “star” that is moving with a light, and this is usually a satellite – and they flash because they rotate.
Satellites and their Purpose
You may be wondering, why did we send devices into space? There are probably too many satellites to give you an exact number, and their purpose is to take pictures of astronomical objects such as the Earth, other planets, the Sun, etc.
The purpose of these pictures is to help us discover more about the planet we live on, the solar system, and the universe in general. Other satellites have the job of sending TV signals and phone calls around the globe.
Satellites and Telescopes
Bigger satellites can most certainly be seen with the naked eye. The recipe is patience, knowing where to look, and a cloudless sky. Nowadays, more than 35,000 satellites are floating around our planet. However, you are unable to see most of them without a telescope. Naturally, they can be observed through a good range telescope.
When observing, the ISS (International Space Station) should be most visible, as it is the brightest and largest object created by people floating around the Earth. You should also look out in case you notice the Tiangong-1 space laboratory, the Soyuz and Progress Spacecraft, Orbital ATK’s Cygnus Capsules, and SpaceX’s Dragon.
Conclusion
If you or a friend have a satellite dish in the backyard so you can watch TV, then you know the location of one satellite, as it is pointed directly at it. The answer you are looking for is yes, you absolutely can see satellites with a telescope. Some can even be seen with the naked eye – you just need to know where to look.
