Starlink train over New York tonight

When to see the Starlink “string of lights” from New York, NY.

Next visible train pass
Sat, Aug 1, 8:44 PM
Peak 23.60° · appears in the NW, moves toward the SW · local time, New York.

Upcoming visible passes

DateTimePeakAppearsToward
Aug 18:44 PM23.60°NWSW
Aug 28:43 PM25.02°NWSW
Aug 28:46 PM22.83°NWSW
Aug 38:51 PM19.70°NWSW
Aug 48:42 PM24.83°NWSW
Aug 58:44 PM24.51°NWSW

Times are computed for New York 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 New York

  • 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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