Starlink satellites - visible passes
Discussion
Beati Dogu said:
The Starlink 5 and the newly launched Starlink 6 satellites are coming over the UK tonight again at approx 9 pm.
Hopefully it won't be cloudy, as they're supposed to be quite bright.
Dusk and dawn is the best time, as the Sun underlights the solar panels.
Both in the same direction?Hopefully it won't be cloudy, as they're supposed to be quite bright.
Dusk and dawn is the best time, as the Sun underlights the solar panels.
New ones, for me near Winchester, very closely clustered around 21:00:
https://www.heavens-above.com/StarlinkLaunchPasses...
Starting near Venus in the West, crossing the sky towards the South East but you'll need to look South and about half-way between the horizon and straight up for most of it.
The previous lot:
https://www.heavens-above.com/StarlinkLaunchPasses...
Dimmer, more spread out and mostly near 21:13 although there are a handful near 21:00.
There are also a few from earlier launches.
I'm thinking 21:00 is too light but yet again I'll be out in my chair in the garden with a glass of wine.
https://www.heavens-above.com/StarlinkLaunchPasses...
Starting near Venus in the West, crossing the sky towards the South East but you'll need to look South and about half-way between the horizon and straight up for most of it.
The previous lot:
https://www.heavens-above.com/StarlinkLaunchPasses...
Dimmer, more spread out and mostly near 21:13 although there are a handful near 21:00.
There are also a few from earlier launches.
I'm thinking 21:00 is too light but yet again I'll be out in my chair in the garden with a glass of wine.
Changing the subject very slightly, in watching for satellites over the last few days I've seen several quite bright flashes. Not meteors, just isolated very brief flashes. Nothing else visible in those locations, no trail, just pinpoint flashes. I'm guessing that it is a sunlight reflection off a satellite that is tumbling. I'm familiar with the Iridium flares, but what I've seen lately is much shorter, more like a very very distant flashgun.
Anyone else seen anything like that?
Anyone else seen anything like that?
There's an awful lot of crap up there it could be:
http://stuffin.space/
Not just satellites, but rocket stages. Even the long metal rods that tie the Starlink satellites down for launch will be swirling around before they re-enter.
http://stuffin.space/
Not just satellites, but rocket stages. Even the long metal rods that tie the Starlink satellites down for launch will be swirling around before they re-enter.
Anyhow, with the usual caveat that you may or may not see them, there are back-to-back passes tonight!!
8.58pm - the Starlink 6 satellites that were launched two days ago are orbiting again. Going from West to East, quite low in the sky, and they could look like a "string of pearls", ie all clustered in one long line.
Then at 9.10pm, also from West to East but higher in the sky, Starlink 5 will go across, like a more conventional train. Hopefully, we'll get some good views.
8.58pm - the Starlink 6 satellites that were launched two days ago are orbiting again. Going from West to East, quite low in the sky, and they could look like a "string of pearls", ie all clustered in one long line.
Then at 9.10pm, also from West to East but higher in the sky, Starlink 5 will go across, like a more conventional train. Hopefully, we'll get some good views.
GloverMart said:
Pvapour said:
Would we see them in sw france?
I'm not too sure, sorry. I'd always suggest following @VirtualAstro on Twitter, he knows what he's talking about. Pvapour said:
Would we see them in sw france?
Super bright and very obvious in southern france, we have next to zero light pollution though, an amazing sight, once in a lifetime id guess..Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff