Starlink train over New York tonight

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

Next visible train pass
Wed, Jun 24, 3:59 AM
Peak 35.13° · appears in the S, moves toward the E · local time, New York.

Upcoming visible passes

DateTimePeakAppearsToward
Jun 243:59 AM35.13°SE
Jun 244:03 AM39.34°SNE
Jun 244:06 AM42.91°SWNE
Jun 244:08 AM47.77°SWNE
Jun 244:12 AM55.60°SWNE
Jun 244:41 AM58.28°WNE
Jun 253:19 AM19.63°SE
Jun 254:05 AM81.37°SWNE
Jun 254:08 AM68.37°SWNE
Jun 254:12 AM65.36°SWNE
Jun 254:15 AM57.06°SWNE
Jun 254:19 AM51.08°WNE

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.

Want a closer look at what's overhead?

A pair of 10×50 binoculars makes the train's spacing pop, and a beginner smart telescope like the Seestar S50 or Dwarf 3 will image satellites, the ISS, and deep-sky objects from your backyard. See our 3-question picker.

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