String of Lights in the Sky

[Oldfishguy]

I live rurally, and it is a dark sky at night  Many nights I'm able to see the satellites whiz by just after dark, and I do look for them.  A couple of nights ago I saw something unusual, VERY unusual . . . a string of lights whizzing by, probably 60 or so.  They were much higher than an airplane, but definitely lower than a normal satellite.  In all honesty, I thought perhaps . . . ICBM's.

After they passed, which seemed like forever but assuredly just a few minutes I came in the house and Googled it.  It appears Mr. Musk in his attempt at satellite internet based system (at least that is the public stated purpose) is on to something new.  Crazy stuff, and very definitely real.


    https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/saw-a-string-of-lights-in-the-night-sky-they-are-spacex-satellites/

[hubcapsc]

I want good internet.

I think technology is awesome.

But soon the sky will be filled with those lights. And neighborhoods
will be filled with drones delivering hamburgers.

My sky is already filled with light pollution from the lights
of nearby towns, as are the skies of most of us. But one day,
even if you're out in the desert somewhere, perhaps the dominant
lights in the sky will be satellites... 

-Mike

[..]

 But one day,
even if you're out in the desert somewhere, perhaps the dominant
lights in the sky will be satellites... 

-Mike

Yep. 

[Serk]

SpaceX is addressing this concern, the newer versions of the satellites have a matte black surface facing the Earth to minimize light reflection.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/04/28/spacex-to-debut-satellite-dimming-sunshade-on-starlink-launch-next-month/

I'm really looking forward to Starlink becoming fully operational, that will remove one of the major hurdles to me being able to move out to my land in the country.

Another interesting bit of Starlink (Keep in mind the military is one of the early adopters of it) is the EULA to sign up for it you have to agree that Mars is a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority of sovereignty over Martian activities.

"For Services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities. Accordingly, Disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement."

https://www.inverse.com/innovation/spacex-mars-city-starlink-terms-of-service-declares-free-planet

[Moonshot_1]

This got posted by someone here a few months ago because of these satellites. They were just starting to send them up at the time.

The website is "See a satellite tonight"

https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/

Give it your location and it will show you what satellites are visible in your night sky and where to look. Tells you what they are and other info on them too.

Really neat site.

[MarkT]

We are far enough away from the Denver lights we still have a darkish sky.  But that's changing with all the growth.  But still go sit out in the spa for the first couple hours after dark just cast your eyes upward watch for movement.  You may be surprised at all the satellites you see.  Generally close to all the time until the earth shadow catches up to them. My record - except for the Musk stream - is seeing 4 at once.  BTW - go to the nasa website - you can get the report for ISS sightings.  It's coming over here tonight at 6:08MT - in 20 minutes - visible for 6 minutes.  It's the third brightest object in the sky.  This is the link for right here - check their map for your location.  https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/view.cfm?country=United_States&region=Colorado&city=Castle_Rock

[Oss]

The 5G stuff has me a little bummed as well.  Can't seem to escape it

And the light pollution is pretty bad here.  Wish I lived far from street lights and city lights

Maybe someday...............

[carolinarider09]

This website provides a visual view of Light Pollution.  In this case, its for my observatory.  But you can look at other places

The second one is a list of the US

The third one is the light pollution map for West Point area.


https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/SnyRdgObSCkey.html?1

https://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/index.html

https://www.cleardarksky.com/lp/WstPtNYlp.html?Mn=optics

[Patrick]

Naa, its just Santa out for a road test after some normal yearly maintenance.

[..]

I saw the ISS over Clayton again tonight.

[Beer van Huet]

Strange, I do not have access to the keloland.com website
Instead, I get this statement

This site is currently unavailable to visitors from the European Economic Area while we work to ensure your data is protected in accordance with applicable EU laws.

First time this is happening to me.
I feel patronized, what's going on here?
 

[Serk]

Strange, I do not have access to the keloland.com website
Instead, I get this statement

This site is currently unavailable to visitors from the European Economic Area while we work to ensure your data is protected in accordance with applicable EU laws.

First time this is happening to me.
I feel patronized, what's going on here?
 

The EU has laws protecting user data which, on the surface seem really good, but, for smaller and hobbyist websites, put a big enough burden on them that rather than meet the requirements they just put a blanket ban on visits from EU visitors.....