If you have ever seen a string of bright dots moving in a perfectly straight line across the night sky, you almost certainly witnessed a Starlink satellite train. SpaceX regularly launches batches of 20–60 Starlink satellites, and in the days following each launch they are visible as a tightly-spaced chain before spreading into their operational orbits.
Even after they disperse, individual Starlink satellites remain visible as faint moving points — though they are much harder to spot once they reach their final operational altitude (currently being lowered from ~550 km to ~480 km).
When Are Starlinks Most Visible?
The best visibility window is 1–5 days after a launch. During this period the satellites are still in a low orbit (around 300 km), close together, and highly reflective. They appear as a dramatic, evenly-spaced chain of lights that can take several minutes to cross the sky.
Like the ISS, Starlink satellites are visible in the hours after sunset and before sunrise when they catch sunlight against a dark sky. Use Orbital Radar's constellation filter to isolate Starlink and check pass times for your location.
What Do Starlinks Look Like?
Shortly after launch, a Starlink train looks like a line of 20–60 evenly-spaced dots moving together across the sky at a steady pace. It is unmistakable and often reported as a "UFO" by people unfamiliar with the phenomenon.
As the satellites raise their orbits over subsequent weeks, the train spreads out. Individual satellites become fainter and harder to distinguish from background stars — though on a clear night, they are still visible to careful observers.
How to Spot Them
1. Check for Recent Launches
SpaceX launches Starlink batches frequently — often multiple times per month. Use Orbital Radar's events panel to see recent launches and identify which batches might still be in their initial low orbit.
2. Find Your Pass Window
The pass window follows the same rules as any satellite: look during the 1–2 hours after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is dark but the satellites are still sunlit. Orbital Radar's Sat Pass tool can give you exact times.
3. Look for the Chain
Face the direction indicated for the start of the pass. The train will appear as a line of dots, all moving together at the same speed and in the same direction. They typically take 3–5 minutes to cross the sky.
Can You Still See Starlinks After They Spread Out?
Yes, but they are much fainter. Operational Starlink satellites at their cruise altitude are typically magnitude 5–7, making them visible in binoculars but challenging for the naked eye unless conditions are excellent. The sheer number in orbit (10,000+) means you may see individual ones drifting across the sky on any clear night if you are patient.