Frequently asked questions
Can I see Starlink tonight?
It depends on where you are. This page only says yes if tonight a Starlink train that still flies in a line passes over your location, high in the sky (more than 45°) and at the right moment: with your sky dark and the satellites still lit by the Sun. It is what the main page marks in green as a perfect pass.
What time can you see the Starlink train?
Only shortly after sunset or shortly before sunrise: your sky has to be dark while the satellites, hundreds of kilometres up, are still lit by the Sun. In the middle of the night they are usually in the Earth's shadow and cannot be seen.
Where should I look?
Towards the point on the horizon where it appears, which you can see on the live map. Go out a few minutes early to a place with little light, let your eyes adapt to the dark and you will see a line of dots moving silently across the sky.
Why can't I see the Starlink train tonight?
Tonight no train still in a line may pass over your area, or it may pass in daylight, too low or already in the Earth's shadow. Also, over the days the satellites climb to a higher orbit and spread out, so they no longer look like a train. That is why only trains still flying in a line count, usually those in the first days after a launch.
Do I need a telescope or binoculars?
No. The Starlink train is visible to the naked eye when it passes high and at night. Binoculars help you see the satellites one by one, but you don't need them.
Where does the data come from?
Passes are calculated with the SGP4 model from the positions SpaceX publishes through CelesTrak, and they are updated every morning. The answer is the same one you see in green on the live map.
What is a Starlink train? What those lights in a line are and how to tell them apart