Predicted pass geometry, viewing conditions, and beam footprint data for Melbourne when EARENDIL-1 — the first commercial orbital mirror — launches in mid-2026.
37.8°SLATITUDE
75°MAX ELEVATION
AEST/AEDTTIMEZONE
~−4PEAK MAGNITUDE
♦ PRE-LAUNCH — NO MIRROR IN ORBIT YET
EARENDIL-1 is targeting a mid-2026 launch pending FCC approval. There is currently no space mirror in orbit. Pass predictions for Melbourne will go live on OrbitalNodes.ai from launch day — exact times, directions, and beam footprint data updated in real time.
PASS GEOMETRY
What to Expect in Melbourne
LATITUDE AND PASS GEOMETRY
At 37.8°S in the Southern Hemisphere, EARENDIL-1 passes are rising in the NW and crossing toward the NE, reversed from northern hemisphere. Maximum elevation up to 75°. EARENDIL-1 orbits in sun-synchronous orbit at 600–650km altitude, meaning it will pass over Melbourne multiple times per week when operational. The mirror is steerable — it will only be at full brightness during targeted commercial passes.
VIEWING WINDOW
APR–OCT offers the best conditions. Melbourne's famously changeable weather is worse in summer. The dry, clear winter months May–August offer the most reliable viewing. The Great Ocean Road (~90 minutes) offers dark sky access. Like all satellites, EARENDIL-1 is only visible during twilight — when your sky is dark but the mirror is still in direct sunlight.
LIGHT POLLUTION BORTLE 8
City sky. EARENDIL-1 at magnitude ~−4 is bright enough to be clearly visible from central Melbourne regardless of light pollution — comparable to Venus at maximum brightness. For darker skies, Yarra Valley (~60km east) or Macedon Ranges (~80km NW) offers better conditions.
LOCAL CONTEXT
Melbourne's flat southern horizon and clear winter skies make it one of Australia's best mirror-viewing cities. The CBD-to-bay geography means a footprint could sweep from the MCG to Port Phillip Bay in a single pass.
5KM BEAM FOOTPRINT
The 5km beam could target landmarks from Flinders Street to St Kilda Beach. Melbourne's grid layout and large flat ground footprint make geometric targeting straightforward.
OBSERVER GUIDE
What EARENDIL-1 Will Look Like from Melbourne
From Melbourne, EARENDIL-1 passes will appear as a fast-moving point of light crossing the sky in approximately 3–4 minutes. At peak brightness it will reach magnitude ~−4 — comparable to Venus at maximum and clearly visible even from the city centre. It will be one of the brightest objects in the sky during a pass.
The mirror is steerable — between targeted commercial passes, Reflect Orbital tilts it away from Earth, making it much dimmer. During an active pass you'll see a sudden brightening as the beam angle locks onto the target region, then abrupt dimming when the mirror tilts away again.
Track EARENDIL-1 from Melbourne at Launch
OrbitalNodes.ai will provide real-time pass predictions for Melbourne from the moment EARENDIL-1's orbital data is published. No app download required.