NASA
Where is Pioneer 10 now?
Today Pioneer 10 is 141.5 au (21.2 billion km) from Earth and 142.0 au from the Sun. Its radio signals take 19 h 37 min to reach us. It is moving towards Earth at 14.1 km/s.
In our sky it is in Taurus (right ascension 05h 18m 03s, declination +26° 05′ 34″), but far too faint to see. This position is calculated from old tracking data, not measured today.
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
NASA's first mission to the outer planets and the first spacecraft to investigate Jupiter.
| Agency | NASA |
|---|---|
| Launch | March 3, 1972 |
| Destination | Jupiter |
| Status | Mission ended; last signal received 23 January 2003. |
Milestones
Position: JPL Horizons, October 13, 2026. NASA · 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.