PASS PREDICTIONS · SÃO PAULO · BRAZIL

EARENDIL-1 Passes
Over São Paulo

Q: How bright will EARENDIL-1 appear from São Paulo?

Magnitude ~−4 at peak — comparable to Venus. São Paulo's 79° peak elevation puts the mirror nearly at the zenith on best passes, enhancing its apparent brightness. Easily visible from Avenida Paulista or Ibirapuera Park regardless of urban light pollution.

Q: How high will EARENDIL-1 appear from São Paulo?

Up to ~79° elevation — nearly at the zenith. From 23.5°S on the Tropic of Capricorn, EARENDIL-1 passes rise in the NW and transit toward the NE, opposite to the direction seen from northern-hemisphere observers.

Q: When is the best time to see it from São Paulo?

June–August is São Paulo's dry winter season — frequent clear nights, lower humidity, mild evenings. Summer (December–March) brings afternoon storms. Autumn and spring are reliably clear transitional seasons.

Q: Why does the mirror move differently from São Paulo than from other cities?

From 23.5°S, EARENDIL-1 rises in the NW and transits NE — opposite to the direction seen from northern cities. São Paulo sits almost exactly on the Tropic of Capricorn, so sun-synchronous satellites approach from the opposite polar direction relative to northern observers.

Q: What makes São Paulo's location significant for EARENDIL-1 viewing?

São Paulo sits on the Tropic of Capricorn — the most southerly latitude where the sun reaches the zenith. This gives ~79° peak elevation, higher than almost any other major metro. At 760m altitude, the atmosphere is slightly thinner than sea-level cities, adding further clarity.

Q: What dark-sky locations near São Paulo are best for watching the mirror pass?

Brotas and Analândia (~230km NW, Bortle 3–4) are the closest genuinely dark sites. Serra da Canastra (~350km west, Bortle 2) is among South America's darkest accessible skies. For urban viewing, Ibirapuera Park or any elevated CBD vantage works well.

Q: Will the beam footprint hit São Paulo?

A 5km beam could span from Avenida Paulista to Ibirapuera Park, or cover the entire central zone. A pass targeting Ibirapuera would illuminate the city's best-known green space. Whether any specific location falls in the footprint depends on Reflect Orbital's commercial contracts.

Predicted pass geometry, viewing conditions, and beam footprint data for São Paulo when EARENDIL-1 — the first commercial orbital mirror — launches in mid-2026. From 23.5°S, sitting almost exactly on the Tropic of Capricorn, EARENDIL-1 reaches up to ~79° peak elevation — nearly at the zenith. São Paulo's altitude of 760m provides additional atmospheric clarity. Passes rise in the NW and transit toward the NE, opposite to northern-hemisphere observers.

23.5°SLATITUDE

79°MAX ELEVATION

BRTTIMEZONE

~−4PEAK MAGNITUDE

EARENDIL-1 PASS ARC AND BEAM FOOTPRINT — SÃO PAULO

PASS GEOMETRY

What to Expect in São Paulo

LATITUDE AND PASS GEOMETRY

From 23.5°S on the Tropic of Capricorn — the most southerly point reached by the sun in the southern summer — EARENDIL-1 passes reach remarkable peak elevations of ~79°, nearly directly overhead. Passes rise in the NW and transit toward the NE, opposite to the direction seen from northern-hemisphere observers. São Paulo's altitude of 760m above sea level reduces atmospheric extinction slightly, enhancing mirror brightness compared to sea-level cities. EARENDIL-1 orbits at a similar inclination to the ISS — meaning it will pass over São Paulo multiple times per week when operational. The mirror is steerable, so it will only be at full brightness during targeted commercial passes.

VIEWING WINDOW

April through October (southern hemisphere autumn/winter) offer the best conditions. Southern hemisphere seasons are reversed. June and July — southern winter — give the longest dark evenings and best satellite viewing. Summer (December–January) brings long twilight. Like all satellites, EARENDIL-1 is only visible during twilight — when your sky is dark but the mirror is still in direct sunlight. Outside this window it is either invisible in daylight or in Earth's shadow.

LIGHT POLLUTION BORTLE 7

Central São Paulo sits at Bortle 8–9 — among the most light-polluted cities in the Southern Hemisphere due to sheer metro size (pop ~22M). EARENDIL-1 at magnitude ~−4 is nonetheless easily visible from Ibirapuera Park, Avenida Paulista, or any elevated CBD location. The near-zenith peak elevation enhances its apparent brightness compared to mid-latitude cities. For genuinely dark skies, the Brotas and Analândia region (~230km NW, Bortle 3–4) is popular with CEAMIG and other Brazilian astronomy clubs. The Serra da Canastra (~350km west) reaches Bortle 2 — among South America's darkest accessible skies outside the Atacama.

5KM BEAM FOOTPRINT

A 5km beam footprint could span from Avenida Paulista to Ibirapuera Park in a single pass, or cover the entire central zone from República to Brooklin. A pass targeting Ibirapuera Park — São Paulo's largest green space — would create striking imagery of concentrated sunlight over the city's best-known civic landmark. The footprint moves at orbital velocity (7.6 km/s) but lingers over the target for several minutes during pass peak. Observers inside the beam experience concentrated sunlight equivalent to a bright full Moon illuminating the scene.

SEASONAL NOTES

Winter (June–August) is São Paulo's dry season with frequent clear nights, lower humidity, and temperatures in the mid-teens Celsius — ideal for evening observation. Summer (December–March) brings tropical afternoon storms and high humidity that limit viewing. Autumn (April–May) and spring (September–November) are reliably settled transitional seasons. Brotas and Analândia offer dark-sky destinations within a 3–4 hour drive.

OBSERVER GUIDE

What EARENDIL-1 Will Look Like from São Paulo

From São Paulo, 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. With 79° peak elevation the mirror transits nearly overhead on best nights, making it the brightest non-natural object in the São Paulo sky during a pass. The city's high altitude gives slightly clearer atmospheric conditions than sea-level Rio or Buenos Aires.

The mirror is steerable — between targeted commercial passes, Reflect Orbital tilts it away from Earth, making it much dimmer or invisible. During an active commercial pass you'll see a sudden brightening as the beam angle locks onto the target region. The pass ends abruptly when the mirror tilts away again.

Unlike a steady satellite, EARENDIL-1 may show subtle brightness variations as the mirror adjusts its aim. Watch for a brief period of maximum brightness near the peak of the pass when the geometry is optimal — this is when the 5km ground footprint is directly beneath the mirror at closest approach.

Track EARENDIL-1 from São Paulo at Launch

OrbitalNodes.ai will provide real-time pass predictions for São Paulo from the moment EARENDIL-1's orbital data is published. No app download required — runs entirely in your browser with GPS-accurate directions.

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FAQ

Space Mirror Questions — São Paulo

How bright will EARENDIL-1 appear from São Paulo?

At peak overhead passes, EARENDIL-1 is designed to reach magnitude ~−4 — comparable to Venus at maximum brightness. São Paulo's 79° peak elevation puts the mirror nearly at the zenith on best passes, enhancing its apparent brightness compared to mid-latitude cities. It is easily visible from Avenida Paulista, Ibirapuera Park, or anywhere in the CBD despite Bortle 8–9 urban light pollution. Between commercial illumination passes, Reflect Orbital tilts the mirror away from Earth, reducing brightness significantly.

How high will EARENDIL-1 appear from São Paulo?

From 23.5°S, on the Tropic of Capricorn, EARENDIL-1 can reach ~79° elevation — nearly at the zenith, among the highest peak elevations of any major city on Earth. Passes rise in the NW and transit toward the NE, opposite to the direction seen from northern-hemisphere observers. Higher elevation passes give a longer viewing window and brighter appearance. São Paulo's latitude is comparable to Rockhampton (Australia) and central Madagascar.

When is the best time to see it from São Paulo?

June through August is São Paulo's dry winter season — frequent clear nights, lower humidity, and mild evening temperatures. Summer (December–March) brings tropical afternoon storms and high humidity that limit viewing. Autumn (April–May) and spring (September–November) are reliably settled transitional seasons. Brotas and Analândia offer dark-sky destinations within a 3–4 hour drive.

Will the beam footprint hit São Paulo?

A 5km beam footprint could span from Avenida Paulista to Ibirapuera Park in a single pass, or cover the entire central zone from República district to Brooklin. A pass targeting Ibirapuera Park — São Paulo's largest and most iconic green space — would create visually striking imagery. Alternatively, a beam over Morumbi or Pico do Jaraguá (the city's highest point) could offer elevated viewing angles. Whether any specific location falls in the footprint depends on Reflect Orbital's commercial contracts and targeting decisions. Given São Paulo's vast metro area, a single 5km beam covers only a small fraction of the built-up city.

Is EARENDIL-1 visible yet?

No — EARENDIL-1 has not launched yet. Reflect Orbital is targeting a mid-2026 launch. There is currently no space mirror in Earth orbit. OrbitalSolar.ai will update with live pass data from the moment orbital elements are published after launch. Check the mission tracker for current launch status.

Why does the mirror move differently from São Paulo than from other cities?

From the Southern Hemisphere on the Tropic of Capricorn, EARENDIL-1 rises in the NW and transits toward the NE — opposite to the direction seen from northern cities. This is because São Paulo sits south of the equator, so sun-synchronous satellites approach from the opposite polar direction relative to northern-hemisphere observers. Pass geometry is similar to what observers in Brisbane or Johannesburg see.

What makes São Paulo's location significant for EARENDIL-1 viewing?

São Paulo sits almost exactly on the Tropic of Capricorn — the most southerly latitude where the sun reaches the zenith on the December solstice. This gives the city some of the highest peak elevations for EARENDIL-1 of any major metro, reaching ~79° (nearly overhead). São Paulo also sits at 760m altitude, giving thinner atmosphere and slightly better transparency than sea-level cities like Rio de Janeiro. The combination of near-zenith passes and elevated altitude makes São Paulo one of the visually best-positioned Southern Hemisphere cities for orbital mirror viewing — despite its extreme urban light pollution. The vast metro (22 million people across 7,900 km²) means a 5km beam footprint covers only a small fraction of the built-up area.

What dark-sky locations near São Paulo are best for watching the mirror pass?

The Blue Mountains (90 minutes west, Bortle 3–4) give the clearest sky with minimal light dome interference. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park (45 minutes north) is excellent for clear northern passes. Royal National Park (45 minutes south) has a clear southern horizon. For serious observation, Observatory Hill in the CBD works for the bright mirror itself — at magnitude −4 it needs no dark sky — but the Blue Mountains are far better for seeing the beam footprint effect against a dark sky backdrop.

// ALSO TRACK SATELLITES OVER SÃO PAULO

OrbitalNodes.ai tracks the ISS, Tiangong, Hubble, and all satellites over São Paulo in real time — including exact pass times, directions, and brightness predictions.

→ SATELLITES OVER SÃO PAULO — ORBITALNODES.AI

EARENDIL-1 PassesOver São Paulo