LowEarth

Starlink train over Minneapolis tonight

When to see the Starlink “string of lights” from Minneapolis, MN.

Next visible train pass
Mon, Sep 21, 8:52 PM
Peak 45.71° · appears in the S, moves toward the N · local time, Chicago.

Upcoming visible passes

DateTimePeakAppearsToward
Sep 218:52 PM45.71°SN
Sep 219:08 PM36.64°NSW
Sep 219:37 PM17.89°SWNW
Sep 228:01 PM16.41°ESE
Sep 228:29 PM28.11°SEN
Sep 229:15 PM25.43°SNW
Sep 229:31 PM17.68°NWW
Sep 238:23 PM34.46°NES
Sep 238:52 PM31.89°SN
Sep 248:30 PM21.47°SEN
Sep 248:45 PM37.48°NS
Sep 249:15 PM22.16°SNW

Times are computed for Minneapolis 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. The train currently visible launched around June 13, 2025 (Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 12-26).

How to see it from Minneapolis

  • 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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