Starlink satellites are the cause of those streaking lines of lights occasionally seen in the night sky. Now, according to Starlink, their service is available nationwide in the United States, including most of West Virginia. However, there is a significant “dead zone” in the state that may pose an inconvenience to some residents.

According to Starlink’s website, the service is not accessible within the National Radio Quiet Zone that encompasses Green Bank, WV, and a significant portion of the Monongahela National Forest. This dead zone, the largest on the continent (excluding bodies of water), includes areas such as Elkins and Snowshoe in north central West Virginia.

Starlink, a division of SpaceX, offers high-speed broadband internet access to users globally through a network of thousands of satellites in Earth’s orbit. As of July 2023, there are a total of 4,519 Starlink satellites in Earth’s orbit, with 4,487 of them operational, as reported by Space.com.

Typically, these satellites are not visible to the naked eye. However, under certain conditions, they can appear as a line of lights moving across the sky. This phenomenon occurs when sunlight reflects off the satellites and onto the Earth, similar to how the moon reflects sunlight.

Rural communities in West Virginia are eagerly awaiting improved internet service, although the presence of the dead zone within the state may delay access for some residents. Further information can be found on Starlink’s availability map.

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