LowEarth

Starlink train over Melbourne tonight

When to see the Starlink “string of lights” from Melbourne, AU.

Next visible train pass
Wed, Aug 5, 6:22 PM
Peak 28.21° · appears in the NE, moves toward the S · local time, Melbourne.

Upcoming visible passes

DateTimePeakAppearsToward
Aug 56:22 PM28.21°NES
Aug 56:55 PM65.85°NS
Aug 57:11 PM32.79°NSW
Aug 57:22 PM22.82°NWSW
Aug 57:28 PM18.64°NWSW
Aug 57:30 PM17.04°NWSW
Aug 66:06 PM15.50°ESE
Aug 66:14 PM20.65°ESE
Aug 66:19 PM24.94°NESE
Aug 66:44 PM73.22°NS
Aug 67:19 PM25.08°NWSW
Aug 76:12 PM19.54°ESE

Times are computed for Melbourne and account for darkness + sunlight, so every pass listed is genuinely visible (not in Earth's shadow).

What is the Starlink “string of lights”?

When SpaceX launches a new batch of Starlink satellites, they're released together into a low orbit and spend the first days flying in a tight line before spreading out and climbing to their final altitude. During that window they look like a slow-moving string of evenly-spaced lights — often mistaken for a UFO. It's not a meteor or aircraft: it's sunlight glinting off a fresh Starlink train.

How to see it from Melbourne

  • Time it for twilight — the train is only visible when your sky is dark but the satellites are still catching the Sun: roughly 1–2 hours after sunset or before sunrise.
  • Look in the direction listed above — the line of lights rises near that horizon and drifts across the sky over 1–4 minutes.
  • Get away from streetlights and let your eyes adjust for a few minutes.
  • No equipment needed — a fresh train is easily naked-eye; binoculars make the spacing dramatic.

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