ESA
Where is Hera now?
Today Hera is 1.3 au (196.2 million km) from Earth and 1.3 au from the Sun. Its radio signals take 10 min 55 s to reach us. It is moving away from Earth at 1.7 km/s.
In our sky it is in Sagittarius (right ascension 17h 48m 09s, declination −26° 21′ 21″), but far too faint to see.
Where it is in the Solar System
Seen from above the plane of Earth’s orbit, with the Sun in the middle: the planets’ orbits, the spacecraft today and its path a year back and a year ahead (where JPL’s trajectory covers it).
Mission
ESA planetary-defence mission to survey Dimorphos, the asteroid moon of Didymos, after NASA's DART impact.
| Agency | ESA |
|---|---|
| Launch | October 7, 2024 |
| Destination | Didymos, Dimorphos |
| Status | Approaching the Didymos system; rendezvous planned for November 2026. |
Milestones
Position: JPL Horizons, October 13, 2026. ESA · Data sources
How to use this page
The page shows where the spacecraft is now, its path through the solar system, its key facts and its main milestones, from NASA JPL’s data.
Frequently asked questions
How is the position worked out?
From NASA JPL Horizons, which publishes the trajectories of spacecraft. The page is refreshed daily.
Can I see it in the sky?
No. Deep space probes are far too small and far away to see, even with a large telescope.
How do we talk to it?
Through NASA’s Deep Space Network, large radio dishes in California, Spain and Australia.