An astronomer in the Netherlands captured the Starlink train zooming across the sky shortly after its launchVimeo/SatTrackCam Leiden
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The launch of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite constellation has sparked a new wave of star gazers who are trying to spot the ‘satellite train’ in the night sky.
Users can use cmdr2 and CalSky to calculate where the constellation will the passing through their neck of the woods.
The Starlink ‘satellite train’ has sparked skywatchers, old and new, to whip out their binoculars and go hunting in the night sky for the SpaceX’s satellite constellation.
After Marco Langroek’s video of Elon Musk’s latest venture went viral, coders jumped on board to build tools that can help you calculate when the satellite train will be overhead where you live.
So where Langroek had to do the math, all you have to do is plug your coordinates into a platform like cmdr2. You can either just pick out your city from the menu or type in your latitude and longitude.
Timings to spot the Starlink satellite train overhead New Delhi, Indiacmdr2
Once it has your location, the site spits out different times when you can spot the Starlink satellite train and which direction to look in — give or take ten minutes.
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Even if you’re not looking for Starlink where you are, there’s a map to track the satellite’s location as it orbits the Earth.
Tracking the the Starlink satellite constellation as it orbits Earthcmdr2
CalSky, another satellite calculator, automatically picks up your coordinates to tell you the best times to try and catch the Starlink satellite train in the sky.
Timings for when you catch the Starlink satellite overhead in GurgaonCalSky
Some stargazers say that you’ll be able to see the satellite with the naked eye while others recommend using binoculars for the best experience. Considering the pollution in Delhi skies, it’s probably best to carry along a pair of field glasses along with you.
The current train in the sky is only 60 of the 12,000 satellites that Musk has planned to launch. Together, they will form the Starlink satellite constellation. The aim of the project is to provide connectivity worldwide, especially in areas that are currently under served when it comes to the internet.
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While the phenomenon might be a wonder to watch, astronomers around the world are concerned that the flashing lights and the sun's reflection might end up hampering the view of outer space from telescopes here on Earth.
Disclaimer: None of tools claim to be 100% accurate but user reviews seem optimistic about the results.
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