Starlink satellites - visible passes

[colin_p]

Looking at "Heavens Above" (HA) the satellite tracking website, for the first time in ages, it seems that we may have quite a show this evening, well possibly.

I've put my location into HA (East Berkshire) and it seems that there are going to be about 50+ visible passes.

I'm not sure if they will be visible as the magnitudes range from 2.6 to 3.1 but if they are it will be quite amazing.

I'll be listening to "Pearl Necklace" by ZZ Top on the Sony Walkman while I'm looking up.

[colin_p]

Excellent news!

I've yet to see them. When I posted the OP sadly it was cloudy and I've not had the chance since to check when they are next visible.

I was worried that they might be too dim to see but your observation is an encouraging one!

[colin_p]

According to heavens above between 18:45 to 18:53 (on 29/01/20) we should have seen multiple passes overhead, some at 80 degrees+.

I had a look, a very good look but didn't see anything. I'm in East Berks which is bad for light pollution and it was a bit hazy overhead so maybe next time.

And next time probably go somewhere darker.

[colin_p]

WOW !

I've just watched two parallel sets of satellites fly over, I lost count but there must have been 30+

Seeing these is just as spectacular as seeing the ISS.

I'm off to the Heavens Above site to work out what I actually saw.

[edit]

I think it was the Starlink 4 batch.

https://www.heavens-above.com/StarLink.aspx?launch...

Edited by colin_p on Sunday 29th March 21:13

[colin_p]

marksx said:

Hard to find on heaven's above. Each individual satellite is logged and it is difficult to I'd what is from which launch group.

I think there has been 3 groups launched now?

Have a look at that link I've posted just above in my edit.

There is a drop down that allows you to view dynamically view each batch.

[colin_p]

Last night at about 9pm'ish I checked Heavens Above and the sky was supposed to be full of them. Didn't see one as the moon was dominating the sky!

Actually, I saw a few but they were either lone starlinks or other satellites.

[colin_p]

That was a much better than expected flypast.

I have a feeling though that the shine (pun intended) will soon wear off but i'll keep looking up as and when while they are still in skytrain mode.

Saying that my inner (70's) child is blown away by them.

[colin_p]

Amazing, the lead satellite of the batch that just went over is just about to fly over the North Western coast of Austrailia.

[colin_p]

jonny142 said:

I'm watching this live feed in the mean time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYjFNEPeSg

They are going to catch bits in nets mounted on ships a few hundred miles offshore !

Good shout on the feed / link.

[edit]

Nasa bloke said they are not catching them in the nets today but will fish them out of the drink.

Edited by colin_p on Wednesday 22 April 20:28

[colin_p]

Boo-hiss, didn't see owt.

[colin_p]

My bet would be with them integrating with the current cell phone network(s).

The phone network operators will reduce costs massively if their towers can be activated without a hard fibre link especially in remote spots.

Both parties could roll this out much cheaper than starting from scratch.

And most importantly it would be available to the end user (us lot) without them having to buy expensive kit.