can satellites orbiting earth be seen with the naked eye?

Answer 1

yup its called the moon

Answer 2

The short answer is "yes".
They are easy to see when you have dark skies with no moon and away from city lights. Most of the ones I have seen orbit from north to south or south to north. I have been told that those are usually military satellites.
They appear as dim stars, but they slowly move across the sky.

On the other hand, if you are looking just after sunset or just before sunrise, the sun's light can reflect more directly off the metal sides of the satellite and it will appear quite bright. Some have been mistaken as UFOs.

Some satellites are in a geosynchronus orbit and so they do not move across the sky. These are almost indistinguishable from dim stars and unless you have a star atlas with you, you most likely will never know the difference.

If you really want to see satellites, my suggestion is to go out on a moonless night with clear skies find a meadow on a farm (make sure the bull is in his pen), get yourself a lounge chair, blanket, munchies, drinks, tunes and binoculars. Some company would be a good idea too.

Answer 3

Yes. The iridium constellation is a good example. They are low earth orbit satellite visible just after sunset as very bright spots moving accross the sky. A lot depends on the inclination, height and type of satellite as to whether it is visible.

Answer 4

Yes, if it's big enough and close enough. The moon is quite visible even though it's a quarter of a million miles away (it's also about 2,000 miles in diameter). Some objects that can be seen with the naked eye are the International Space Station and the Genesis 1 spacecraft.

Answer 5

You'll only see it with the naked eye if the sun glints off of it. If you take a long exposure camera, the satellite will often show up as a dotted line across the sky as it turns and reflects the sun differently.

Answer 6

yes.

On clear evening, preferably out in the country when light is very minimal, you can see some satellites orbiting earth.

Answer 7

yes you can watch some of the artificial satelites through naked eye. you can see the ISS on a clear sky. when the ISS is fully constructed it will be the brightest object in the night sky after the moon. also, whenever a space shuttle is launched you can easily see it when it orbits over your city. you will see the space shuttle always moving from the west to the east (may be north-east ) it will a very bright light ( brighter than venus ) & will be moving faster than an airplane. try to locte the ATLANTIS, it will be launched on 27th august (hopfully).

Answer 8

Yes they can. Apart from the moon, the biggest, you can see all sorts of satellites in the sky at night. If you go to an astronomical website, you can probably get the times they rise. They used to print them in a newspaper called The Guardian in the U.K.

Answer 9

NO
normally a geo stationary satellite will be orbiting at an altitude of
36000km
so its impossible to see thr satellites with naked eye

Answer 10

Yes. If you stare at the stars at night you will every now and then see a faint blinking light go across the sky - that is a satellite.

Answer 11

Yes look into the sky at night and see the stars when you see one moving its a satellite.