This week brings us THREE Starlink Train viewing opportunities! Depending on cloud cover and visibility conditions, we can possibly see these occur every evening for the next three days.
A Starlink Train is a cluster of freshly launched Starlink Satellites that are close together as they are orbiting Earth and getting into their positions. They orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes or so, putting them at similar speeds to the International Space Station (17,500 MPH).
Looking at the data below, Wednesday should be the best view of the Starlink Train, followed by Thursday, then Tuesday, due to their maximum elevations.
| SIGHTING INFO | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DATE | Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | Wednesday, March 13, 2024 | Thursday, March 14, 2024 |
| TIME | 8:11 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:11 PM |
| VISIBLE | 4 minutes | 4 minutes | 4 minutes |
| MAX HEIGHT | 32° | 89° | 31° |
| APPEARS | 11° above N | 10° above NW | 10° above NW |
| DISAPPEARS | 32° above NE | 33° above SE | 12° above S |
These times and other figures may fluctuate as the event nears, so be sure to start viewing 10 minutes earlier than the time posted.
These timings are all for the same one – Starlink-143 G7-17.
A Starlink train is a temporary sight you can witness in the night sky under the right conditions. It’s not a train in the traditional sense, but rather a line of Starlink satellites orbiting Earth together shortly after being launched.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Starlink Satellites: These are part of a large constellation of internet satellites launched by SpaceX. Their purpose is to deliver internet access globally.
- The Train Formation: When a batch of Starlink satellites is launched, they initially stay close together in a line as they reach their designated orbit.
- Visibility: On a clear night, you might see these satellites appear as a string of bright dots moving across the sky. This is the “Starlink train” effect.
It’s important to note that this train formation is temporary. The satellites gradually spread out as they reach their final positions in orbit, making them much harder to see individually with the naked eye.
