China's secretive space plane, known as Shenlong, is currently making a series of passes over the United States. According to reports from Spaceweather.com, the spacecraft is bright enough to be seen without optical aid under favorable conditions, though observers will need to wake up early for predawn viewing opportunities. The vehicle is on its fourth mission, and while specific objectives remain undisclosed, China's space agency has stated it is testing technologies intended to facilitate more convenient and affordable round-trip methods for the peaceful use of space in the future.
Satellite-tracking data from Heavens-Above indicates multiple viewing windows between October 30 and early November, weather permitting. For major U.S. cities, the most promising high-altitude passes include New York on November 1 between 5:20 a.m. and 5:28 a.m. EST with a maximum elevation of 78 degrees. Chicago residents can look for the craft on November 3 from 4:37 a.m. to 4:42 a.m. CST, reaching an elevation of 85 degrees. In Denver, the best window is November 2 from 5:05 a.m. to 5:12 a.m. MST at 73 degrees, while Los Angeles offers a viewing time on November 2 from 5:42 a.m. to 5:51 a.m. PST with an elevation of 83 degrees. These times account for the end of daylight saving time on November 1.
Additional opportunities exist if clouds obscure the primary passes or schedules change. New York has further windows on October 31 and November 2, while Chicago offers chances on October 31 and November 2. Denver and Los Angeles also have secondary viewing times scheduled for early November. To find specific predictions for other locations, observers can visit Heavens-Above, enter their location, and search the satellite database for "PRC TEST SPACECRAFT 4." Selecting the "visible only" filter provides detailed sky charts showing the predicted path and optimal viewing angles.
To the naked eye, Shenlong appears as a small, steadily moving point of light similar to a satellite. Its brightness can vary significantly; veteran observer Paul Maley reported seeing the craft from South Africa in February 2026 with an estimated magnitude between +2.5 and +3.5 at its brightest. However, Maley noted it could fade to magnitude +6, making dark skies away from city lights essential for a successful sighting. Shenlong is a reusable spacecraft that launches on a rocket and returns to Earth via runway landing, comparable to the U.S. military's X-37B. While details remain scarce, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency recently released a photograph of the vehicle, offering a rare glimpse into its operations.
Sources: Space.com.