String of Lights in the Sky? Those Are Starlink Satellites – When and Where to See Them

By Alexander Merz · Updated on 1 October 2026 · Details checked on 7 October 2026

The “string of lights in the sky” is a freshly launched train of Starlink satellites from the space company SpaceX: in the first few days after launch, 20 to 30 satellites fly tightly packed one behind the other on the same orbit and glow in the sunlight like a string of pearls. You can find more about everything that crosses the night sky under satellites in the sky and in our astronomy knowledge section.

See Starlink satellites tonight: the forecast for your location

The table shows all visible passes of freshly launched Starlink chains over the next five nights. We calculate them ourselves from the orbital data SpaceX publishes every day (via CelesTrak) and adjust them to your approximate location – that location matching currently covers Germany, Austria and Switzerland; everywhere else you see the times for Frankfurt, which can be off by several minutes.

If no chain is listed right now, that is perfectly normal: after about a week the satellites have already spread out along their orbit. The list below the table shows which groups were launched most recently and why they are not (yet) or no longer visible as a chain.

What is the string of lights in the sky?

Since 2019, SpaceX has been building the largest satellite network in history: Starlink is designed to deliver satellite internet worldwide and now comprises more than 11,000 satellites – which means more than half of all active satellites in Earth orbit belong to this single project. As of 21.10.2026: 11,149 Starlink satellites with current orbital data (SpaceX ephemerides via CelesTrak).

Launches come thick and fast: almost every week a Falcon 9 rocket carries usually 20 to 30 (in the early years up to 60) new satellites into space at once. And it is precisely these fresh “batches” that create the spectacle: right after deployment, all the satellites fly tightly packed one behind the other on the same orbit – from the ground it looks like a glowing string of pearls sweeping across the sky in just a few minutes.

Why does the chain disappear after a few days?

The string of pearls is just a snapshot. After deployment, the satellites use their own ion thrusters to raise their orbit from around 270 to 350 kilometres up to their operating altitude, spreading out along their orbit in the process. The tight chain turns into individual, much fainter points of light.

On top of that, once in their target orbit the satellites angle their reflective surfaces so that they reflect less sunlight back to Earth. That is why: you only see the spectacular chains in the first few days after a launch.

When and where can you see Starlink?

Three conditions have to come together – and they apply the same way across the UK, Ireland and Central Europe:

• Twilight window: the satellite must be lit by the Sun while it is already dark where you are. This works about 1–2 hours after sunset and before sunrise. In the middle of the night the satellites fly through Earth’s shadow – invisible. (Midsummer exception: on the bright nights of June, satellites can stay lit almost all night long.)
• Recent launch: for the impressive chain, the launch must be only a few days old. Individual older Starlinks do dart across the view all the time, but hardly stand out.
• Clear sky: cloud-free towards the pass trajectory – the satellites usually travel from west to east.

String of lights, ISS, aircraft or shooting star? The comparison table

Do you need binoculars for it?

No – the fresh chains are clearly visible to the naked eye. Binoculars do make the observation far more impressive, though: you can clearly see the individual satellites of the chain separated from one another and can also track down older, fainter Starlinks. A bright 10×50 pair has proven its worth:

And in case looking up has just got you hooked: for satellites you really don’t need any equipment – for almost everything else in the sky, it is worth having some. What makes sense to start with and what you are better off avoiding is covered in our buying guide for beginner telescopes. If you would rather stick with binoculars, you will find our picks in the binoculars buying guide.

How many Starlink satellites are there? Numbers, altitude and size

More than 11,000 Starlink satellites with current orbital data are circling the Earth – more than from any other operator. The number grows almost every week, because each Falcon 9 takes around two dozen new satellites along, while older ones are deliberately deorbited to burn up in the atmosphere after about five years.

The altitudes in the table come from the orbital data of the latest launches, which we analyse for the forecast above anyway. Freshly deployed satellites fly lowest – that is why they are brightest in the first few days.

What do Starlink satellites look like?

A Starlink satellite is a flat box with large solar panels – from the ground you only see a point of light, because it is hundreds of kilometres away. What shines is reflected sunlight, not any lighting of its own.

Right after launch, the points are roughly as bright as medium-bright stars and easy to see with the naked eye. Once in their operating orbit, most become so faint that you will hardly notice them in a city – darker coatings and the deliberate angling of the solar panels see to that, too.

The downside: what Starlink means for astronomy

As fascinating as the chains are, tens of thousands of reflective satellites are a problem for astronomy: they draw bright streaks through long exposures, disturb large telescopes and permanently change the night sky. SpaceX is trying to counteract this (darker coatings, adjusted flight orientation), but with every launch the number of points of light grows.

Anyone photographing the Milky Way today almost always has satellite trails in the shot – in our astrophotography guide we show you how to remove them during stacking. The growing problem of light pollution thus takes on a new dimension too – from the ground AND from orbit. Plans for mirror satellites such as Reflect Orbital, which are meant to beam sunlight onto the night side of the Earth on purpose, go one step further still.

Frequently asked questions about the string of lights in the sky

I saw a string of lights today/yesterday – what was it?

Almost certainly a freshly launched Starlink train. On findstarlink.com you can check retroactively whether a pass took place over your region at the time of your observation.

Does the string of lights have anything to do with Elon Musk?

Yes – Starlink is the satellite internet project of SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space company. The satellites deliver internet to remote regions worldwide.

How fast do the lights move?

At around 27,000 km/h, Starlink satellites orbit the Earth in about 90 minutes. In the sky they cross your field of view in two to five minutes – far faster than any aircraft.

Can you see Starlink from the UK and Ireland too?

Yes, visibility is practically identical across Western and Central Europe – the same rules (twilight, recent launch, clear sky) apply everywhere. The tracking tools work for any location.

How often can you see the chains?

SpaceX launches new satellites almost every week – so there are chances all the time. Whether a visible pass takes place over your region depends on the orbit and the twilight window: the tracking check takes 30 seconds.

Are the satellites dangerous?

Not for you on the ground. Decommissioned Starlinks burn up in a controlled way in the atmosphere. What is mainly debated are the consequences for astronomy and for an increasingly crowded Earth orbit.