Recently, SpaceX has been launching 100s of satellites into Earth orbit. The Starlink Satellite system will deliver high speed internet around the world. As a spectacle, I find the Starlink satellites fascinating to watch since they move in very large packs across the sky, not just single satellites but groups of them that move like a string of pearls across the sky for minutes at a time. I've observed these on many occasions over the past weeks. To see them, you will need a somewhat dark sky and a clear view especially toward the west. The website Heavens Above provides accurate information to help you locate times when the satellites will be visible based on your location on Earth.
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| Heavens Above - Starlink Passes |
The passes are quite impressive, with the graceful slow movement of a satellite from west to east being followed by a next satellite, and 15-20 seconds later another satellite, and so on. These chains of satellites are quite beautiful to see and if you are patient and look closely in the direction that Heavens Above advises, you will indeed find them. But you have to really pay attention to the cardinal direction (Azimuth, shown as east, west, north, south) and the height in the sky (Altitude, shown in degrees above the horizon).
There is controversy about these satellites. Because of the sheer quantity of them and the fact that they are bright enough to spot nearly every night, professional astronomers and astrophotographers are being disrupted in their work. SpaceX says they are working on ways to make the satellites less bright as they move up toward their final orbital altitude. The jury is out and we shall see how these satellites evolve over the coming months.
Postscript: on May 10th, 2020: SpaceX is working on plans to mitigate the impact of the Starlink satellites in the night sky, using a 'sunshade' approach.
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