Sights in the sky: Those were Starlink satellites, again

(Photo tweeted by Yolanda, looking west from Fauntleroy)

Thanks for the tips and pics. Once again, a SpaceX rocket launch deploying Starlink satellites has led to a startling sighting in the West Seattle sky. This time, they launched 52 satellites for more internet connectivity in certain regions of the world. Another launch last month led to a similar sighting. Today’s launch was at 4:32 pm our time; the next one, according to EarthSky, could be as soon as Friday (September 30th).

17 Replies to "Sights in the sky: Those were Starlink satellites, again"

  • David September 24, 2022 (10:27 pm)

    Thanks for that!  I just saw this about an hour ago from sitting on my deck in Normandy Park looking west toward Three Tree Point…it was very odd, not SeaTac traffic or such, not blinking like airplanes, I wondered what the heck that was, took a picture too (not as good)

  • brizone September 24, 2022 (10:42 pm)

    Actually, those were from last week’s launch (G4-34) not the batch from today. More passes tomorrow around the same time (15 minutes later) and more in the upcoming days as orbit raising slowly reduces their visibility.  Use https://heavens-above.com/StarlinkLaunchPasses.aspx to see future passes (set your lat/long!)

    • Brian September 25, 2022 (9:32 am)

      Thanks for the link.  Are those times local or GMT?

      • brizone September 25, 2022 (11:52 pm)

        Sorry,  didn’t see your coment until now.  Local times.  When you set up an account and set your location, Heavens-above gives you the local time for passes at that location.

  • brizone September 24, 2022 (10:44 pm)

    Tomorrow’s early passes (below) calculated from Myrtle Reservoir on 35th Ave SW.   

    • brizone September 25, 2022 (11:54 pm)

      Also: you can click on the “Highest Point” time to generate the spotting chart.

  • North Admiral Resident September 25, 2022 (7:11 am)

    I wish Elon was on one of those 

    • km September 25, 2022 (11:27 am)

      Hear hear! 

    • DBurger September 25, 2022 (8:58 pm)

      There has to be a satellite with the number “86” assigned to it. I mean, there just has to.

  • Watertowerjim September 25, 2022 (7:33 am)

    Someday we will have space-billboards.  Yuck.

  • flimflam September 25, 2022 (7:43 am)

    more light pollution….

    • Rhonda September 25, 2022 (1:10 pm)

      Not at all. They’re only visible for a few minutes when the sun strikes them an hour or so after sunset. Once they get into their assigned orbit after a few weeks they will be less reflective after sunset. Many satellites aren’t visible from earth as their locations don’t coincide with sunrises and sunsets.

  • Gill & Alex September 25, 2022 (10:29 am)

    What happened to the original night time photo?  Of course we love eagles but…

  • Jenny September 25, 2022 (11:32 am)

    Saw the sattelites .. pretty awesome. I was just curious what is the bright star in the sky. Most of the time its in same spot. 

    • dcn September 25, 2022 (2:16 pm)

      It was probably Jupiter. It is at opposition and is closer to Earth than anytime in the past 59 years. 

  • C September 25, 2022 (11:50 am)

    They were visible at the Gorge Amphitheater as well… kinda freaked out the audience… 

    • Sarah Rose September 26, 2022 (9:23 am)

      Yessss. Captured  this picture at the show. It was also bizarre how they just miraculously vanished. 

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