People across parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire reported seeing a thin white line of bright moving lights across the sky around 6 p.m. Friday. These lights were actually a series of SpaceX Starlink satellites that were launched from Cape Canaveral early Wednesday morning aboard a Falcon 9 booster.
Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX. The satellites are used to deliver high-speed internet from low-earth orbit and provide coverage to over 60 countries. SpaceX began launching Starlink satellites in 2019.
The phenomenon of these lights moving across the sky can be seen at various times and locations. It is known as a Starlink satellite pass and can be quite a spectacle to observe. If you missed the recent sighting, you can try to catch it again tomorrow night at about 6:03 p.m. by looking in the western sky. The satellites will take approximately five minutes to pass through.
Starlink is part of SpaceX’s mission to provide global broadband coverage and improve internet accessibility worldwide. The constellation consists of thousands of small satellites that work together to create a network capable of transmitting internet signals across the globe.
These satellite passes serve as a reminder of the advancements in space technology and the increasing presence of satellites in our everyday lives. Whether it’s for communication, navigation, or internet connectivity, satellites play a crucial role in modern society and continue to revolutionize the way we live and interact with the world around us.