NASA
Where is Pioneer 11 now?
Today Pioneer 11 is 118.1 au (17.7 billion km) from Earth and 118.0 au from the Sun. Its radio signals take 16 h 22 min to reach us. It is moving away from Earth at 39.9 km/s.
In our sky it is in Scutum (right ascension 18h 55m 53s, declination −08° 54′ 57″), 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
Second mission to Jupiter and the first spacecraft to study Saturn up close.
| Agency | NASA |
|---|---|
| Launch | April 6, 1973 |
| Destination | Jupiter, Saturn |
| Status | Mission ended in 1995. |
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.