Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No it’s a Train of Starlink Satellites Flying over the UK

STARGAZERS from across Worcestershire contacted the Standard on Sunday night after seeing a string of strange lights in the sky at about 11pm.

Explanations as to what they could be were soon being discussed on social media with theories ranging from “meteor showers” and “military planes” to “alien space craft.”

Emma Marshall from Redditch asked the question: “Anyone else seen a line of planes all headed North in a straight line? I’m assuming military as they weren’t on the flight radar map.”

In fact, what Emma and many other residents saw was a cluster of satellites known as Starlink. And weather permitting, eagle eyed stargazers across the UK may continue to see the formation over the next few days. It will appear as a string of very bright lights in a line formation.

However, not all spectators of Sunday night’s light show were quite so calm. One slightly panicked witness said: “I thought aliens had arrived. I mean who’d have thought we’d have a killer virus out there a few months ago. Strange things are going on at the moment and you don’t often see all these lights lining up in the sky. It was really eerie. I thought they were UFOs!”

So what exactly is Starlink?

Starlink is a satellite constellation being constructed by American company SpaceX to provide satellite Internet access. The constellation will eventually consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit, working in combination with ground transceivers.

The mission of the project according to the SpaceX’s website is to “provide remote locations across the world with low-cast internet.”

And this has resulted in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission granting the company permission to fly 12,000 satellites as part of the project which may be viewed from the ground during the correct weather conditions.

According to www.SpaceNews.com, the company has so far only launched 300 of its planned 12,000 small broadband satellites into low orbit around the Earth. But the project has already faced criticism as astronomers fear that the bright satellites will interfere with other astronomical observations.

Will I be able to see the Starlink satellites for myself?

If the weather stays clear, you should be able to see them at certain times until the 24th April over the Midlands. Download the Starlink app which will automatically calculate when the satellites are expected to be visible above your exact location.

Or according to www.findastarlink.com, the satellites will be flying over the Midlands on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, April 21 – 10.34pm,

Starlink-5,6 OLD, BRIGHT (2.6) for 6 mins

Look from WEST to EAST

Elevation (from horizon): start: 10°, max: 79°, end: 54°

Wednesday, April 22 – 4.04am

Starlink-3 OLD, BRIGHT (2.3) for 4 mins

Look from SOUTHWEST to EAST

Elevation (from horizon): start: 38°, max: 78°, end: 10°

Wednesday, April 22 – 9.34pm

Starlink-5,6 OLD, BRIGHT (2.5) for 6 mins

Look from WEST to EAST