TRACKER LAUNCH DATE ASTRONOMY SPACEX CONTROVERSY FAQ REFLECT ORBITAL
1.3°NLATITUDE
35°MAX ELEVATION
SGTTIMEZONE
~−4PEAK MAGNITUDE
◈ PRE-LAUNCH — NO MIRROR IN ORBIT YET
EARENDIL-1 is targeting a mid-2026 launch. There is currently no space mirror in orbit. Pass predictions for Singapore will go live on OrbitalNodes.ai from launch day — exact times, directions, and beam target information updated in real time.
EARENDIL-1 PASS ARC AND BEAM FOOTPRINT — SINGAPORE
30° 60° 90° 5km beam footprint Peak 35° — moderate elevation W E SINGAPORE · 1.3°N · EARENDIL-1 PASS GEOMETRY 5–7 passes/week (season) mag ~−4 at peak
EARENDIL-1 VIEWING CONDITIONS — SINGAPORE BY MONTH VIEWING QUALITY BY MONTH J F BEST M BEST A GOOD M J J A BEST S GOOD O GOOD N D STATS 35° MAX ELEV 4–6/week PASSES/WK B9 BORTLE 1.3°N W → E (low) ★ BEST: FEB–APR Inter-monsoon — lowest haze of year ✗ AVOID: JUL–SEP Indonesian fires — severe haze season UNIQUE Most frequent passes — equat
PASS GEOMETRY

What to Expect in Singapore

LATITUDE AND PASS GEOMETRY
Near the equator, EARENDIL-1 passes will be lower on the horizon — maximum around 35° elevation — but the equatorial location means more frequent orbital crossings as the satellite passes overhead on every orbit. EARENDIL-1 orbits at a similar inclination to the ISS — meaning it will pass over Singapore multiple times per week when operational. The mirror is steerable, so it will only be at full brightness during targeted commercial passes.
VIEWING WINDOW
Year-round consistent — no seasonal variation near the equator. Singapore's equatorial position means twilight is brief and consistent year-round — darkness arrives within 30 minutes of sunset every night, giving a reliable but short viewing window. 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 9
Inner city — extreme light pollution. EARENDIL-1 at magnitude ~−4 is bright enough to be clearly visible from central Singapore regardless of light pollution — comparable to Venus at maximum brightness. The beam footprint illumination on the ground is even more dramatic and would be visible from anywhere inside the 5km footprint. Desaru Coast, Malaysia (~100km) offers significantly darker skies for optimal viewing.
5KM BEAM FOOTPRINT
Singapore's compact geography means the entire island could fall within a single 5km beam footprint pass. The equatorial location also means EARENDIL-1 passes overhead on almost every orbit, giving frequent opportunities. The footprint moves at orbital velocity — 7.6 km/s — so it sweeps across the ground in under a second, but during the peak of a pass it lingers for several minutes. Observers inside the beam experience concentrated sunlight equivalent to a bright full Moon illuminating the scene.
SEASONAL NOTES
No seasonal variation. The main challenge is persistent haze from regional burning — worst March–April and August–September. Clear nights between haze events can be excellent.
OBSERVER GUIDE

What EARENDIL-1 Will Look Like from Singapore

From Singapore, 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 light-polluted 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 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 Singapore at Launch

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

◈ OPEN ORBITALNODES.AI
FAQ

Space Mirror Questions — Singapore

How bright will EARENDIL-1 appear from Singapore?

At peak overhead passes, EARENDIL-1 is designed to reach magnitude ~−4 — comparable to Venus at maximum brightness and clearly visible from anywhere in Singapore regardless of light pollution. This makes it one of the most conspicuous objects in the sky during a pass. Between commercial illumination passes, Reflect Orbital will tilt the mirror away from Earth, reducing brightness significantly.

How high will EARENDIL-1 appear from Singapore?

Near the equator, EARENDIL-1 passes will be lower on the horizon — maximum around 35° elevation — but the equatorial location means more frequent orbital crossings as the satellite passes overhead on every orbit. The exact elevation varies pass by pass depending on the orbital geometry. Higher elevation passes give a longer viewing window and brighter appearance as the mirror is closer to the observer.

When is the best time to see it from Singapore?

Year-round consistent — no seasonal variation near the equator. The main challenge is persistent haze from regional burning — worst March–April and August–September. Clear nights between haze events can be excellent. Twilight passes are prime viewing time — both you and the mirror are in the right geometry for visibility.

Will the beam footprint hit Singapore?

Singapore's compact geography means the entire island could fall within a single 5km beam footprint pass. The equatorial location also means EARENDIL-1 passes overhead on almost every orbit, giving frequent opportunities. Whether any specific location falls in the footprint depends on Reflect Orbital's commercial contracts and targeting decisions. The beam is steerable so it can be directed to specific cities or regions for commercial lighting purposes.

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 is Singapore's pass frequency higher than other cities?

At 1.3°N — essentially on the equator — EARENDIL-1 crosses overhead on nearly every orbit rather than occasionally passing close to the city. A satellite in a 97° sun-synchronous orbit completes roughly 15 orbits per day, and each orbit crosses near the equator twice. This gives Singapore 4–6 visible passes per week compared to 3–4 for higher latitude cities — though all are at low 35° elevation rather than the high arcs seen further north or south.

How does Singapore's humidity and haze affect mirror viewing?

Singapore's year-round humidity (80%+ most months) creates atmospheric haze that reduces visibility and makes the mirror appear slightly blurred compared to the sharp point seen in drier climates. Visibility is best immediately after heavy rain clears the air — typically 30–60 minutes of exceptional transparency. Regional smoke haze from Indonesian agricultural fires (July–September) can reduce limiting magnitude to 2–3, making even the bright mirror difficult. February–April is consistently the clearest season.

What are the best viewing spots in Singapore for mirror passes?

Gardens by the Bay provides an open northern horizon — ideal since EARENDIL-1 tracks low across the north from Singapore. East Coast Park offers a long unobstructed view. Pulau Ubin island (30 minutes by bumboat from Changi Point) has dramatically darker skies than the mainland and excellent northern horizon views. For the mirror itself at magnitude −4, any open spot in Singapore works — it cuts through urban haze easily. Sentosa Island's beaches give a 360° open sky.

// ALSO TRACK SATELLITES OVER SINGAPORE

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

→ SATELLITES OVER SINGAPORE — ORBITALNODES.AI