“We were able to see this because it happened at the perfect time,” said WRAL meteorologist Chris Michaels. “Sunrise at RDU Wednesday is at 6:04 a.m., meaning that the sun had risen farther east. That sun being lower in the sky helped to illuminate the rocket trail, to where it was visible this far west.”
Twilight, or the hour or so before sunrise and after sunset, is the best time to see launches even hundreds of miles away from the launch pad as the Sun illuminates the rocket’s exhaust while the sky is dark enough to see.
How to spot Starlink again on Thursday, Friday
Twilight is also the best time to see the Starlink and other satellites. Look for what look like dim stars moving steadily across the sky. Unlike aircraft, satellites don’t blink and appear to move very smoothly.
The latest batch of Starlinks launched on Wednesday, labeled G-8-9 by SpaceX, are expected to be visible Thursday morning at 5:04 a.m. moving from the left to right above the northern horizon. They will be about 30 degrees above the horizon, or the width of your outstretched hand. They will be visible in the same place a few minutes later on Friday.
Spotting Starlink Satellites Date Time Where to look Thursday, July 4 5:03 AM moving from the left to right along the northern horizon Friday, July 5 5:05 AM moving from the left to right lower along the northern horizon The days following a launch are best to spot Starlink satellites while they are still in tight formation. The cluster of satellites will appear as a string of lights. Over time, the satellites spread out across the entire orbital and are more difficult to see.
SpaceX has also made efforts to make Starlink satellites less visible as they move into their operational orbital positions. This is in response to growing concerns from the astronomical community about impact to astronomical observations
A dark coating is now applied to the desk sized satellites to make them less reflective. The most recent “VisorSat” Starlinks deploy a panel to prevent sunlight from reflecting back to Earth. Orbits of the satellites have also been adjusted to reduce the amount of time they move through the dawn and dusk hours that make them so visible.
Daisy Hips is a science communicator who brings the wonders of the natural world to readers. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to environmental conservation. Daisy is also an advocate for science education and enjoys stargazing in her spare time.
