We'll explain what Starlink satellites are and how to see them —Elon Musk's satellite constellation that aims to bring internet access to every corner of the Earth. You might see a constellation of satellites crossing the sky and not know what it is. This technology is truly revolutionary and aims to take the internet to a whole new level.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you how to see the Starlink satellites, what their characteristics and curiosities are.
What is Starlink and its satellites
Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The company's plan is to have around 12.000 satellites in orbit , allowing users to pay a monthly fee to connect from anywhere using their own device. It's not about competing with fiber optic or 5G connectivity; it's about carving out a niche among other satellite internet providers in areas without fixed-line network coverage. For more information on the number of satellites in orbit, you can consult our article on how many satellites are in orbit.
Starlink promises speeds between 50 Mbps and 250 Mbps in its standard service, or between 150 and 500 Mbps in its more expensive plan , both with latencies between 20 and 40 milliseconds. The system includes a kit that you have to install in your home to receive satellite signals, so it's not a network you can connect to from your phone, but rather a network for your home.
The idea is that the antenna in your connectivity kit will communicate with Starlink satellites to exchange data. That's why the company wants to have as many satellites in orbit as possible to cover every corner of the planet. This communication will use the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum to send signals.
As stated on the Starlink website, the kit antenna should be placed high up and/or free of obstructions such as trees, chimneys, or utility poles. Any of these obstacles can interfere with the connection and prevent you from connecting.
As for the price, Starlink has a monthly fee of €99, and the connectivity kit costs €639 . Therefore, it's not a particularly cheap option, but it can be useful in remote areas where connectivity is crucial.
Key features
The satellites are launched in batches of 60, and the days after launch are the best for viewing because that's when they reflect the most sunlight, and they're still close together, making them more interesting to watch, like Santa's carriage rising in the sky. Over time, the satellites drift apart and adjust to different altitudes and inclinations, which reduces the likelihood of seeing them.
While ordinary citizens find it interesting to look for satellites in the sky, astronomers consider it foolish, given that hundreds of satellites have already been launched and that number is projected to reach 42,000 in the future , crowding many observation centers. Their biggest concern is the Rubin Observatory, which will map the entire sky every three days to see what's happening in the heavens. To better understand how these initiatives affect technology, you can read about the European satellite project.
The astronomical community is demanding measures to keep the skies as clear and dark as possible, in stark contrast to the launch of 30.000 satellites in 2023, adding to the activity of other companies and the EU's proposed satellite fleet, making these measures even more challenging. More and more satellites are expected, with the total projected to reach 100.000 in just ten years.
SpaceX has now committed to making changes to prevent these reflections, including using a darker coating to reduce reflectance, also known as albedo, starting in 2020. They also slightly change the tilt and attach to the shields like goggles. sun, which at first glance seems that you do not see them.
When they change, we can see the lunar phases pass over Spain every month, at times of day when the sun shines on them but it's still dark, like after sunset or before sunrise . After each phase, they can almost always be seen easily on some day, appearing suddenly in the sky as the sun's rays begin to hit them, and disappearing once the light stops. Follow them; there are two ideal spots.
How to see Starlink satellites
To see the Starlink satellites, you first need to know when they will pass through your city. To do so, visit the FindStarlink.com website and fill in your country and city name. When you start typing a name, you'll see a list of cities, and if yours doesn't appear, you can choose the closest city.
This will take you to a page that lists the date and time the Starlink satellites will pass over your city. Plus, they'll tell you where they're from and where to look. For example, in the capture you can see that it says from northwest to southeast, which means from northwest to southeast. But most importantly, the data is divided into three lists based on its visibility. The important thing is the list with blue headers, but we tell you what each one means:
- Good Visibility Times: These are times when satellite visibility is good. At this time, if the sky is clear, you will see them go by without any problem because they will be very bright. Therefore, the time to appear on the blue list is always the best.
- Average visibility time: Hours of average visibility. If the sky is clear you should be able to see the satellites most of the time, although you should look closely as they are not as bright. Going to the blue list is recommended, but these yellow list times may also be helpful to you.
- Low visibility time: Time when visibility is low. The satellites will pass, but it is not easy to see them in the sky. It is recommended not to waste too much time during these times.
Therefore, it's advisable to check the sky at the time and date on a list of times with good visibility, because on those days the satellite will be very clearly visible. Keep in mind that the website also tells you the satellite's trajectory and even its altitude in English, although on days with good visibility you shouldn't have any problems . Remember, you have to look at the sky where there is less light pollution, where there are no lights around, and where you can see the stars.
