How can I see Starlink satellites tonight? When they are visible in the UK and how to spot them

On Sunday, individuals in the southern region of England saw shining lights rapidly moving through the dark sky. Even though the Orionid meteor shower was at its maximum point during the weekend, this occurrence was unique.

The lights that were moving at a slower pace were actually satellites from the Starlink network. They were put into a lower orbit around Earth by SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk.

You can expect to spot the satellites in some regions of the country later this week. We've got you covered with all the information on how to catch a glimpse of them and gain knowledge on SpaceX's Starlink project.

"Spotting Starlink: A Guide"

Over the past week, Starlink has launched several satellites into space, which indicates that they will remain observable in the UK's atmosphere for the next few days.

You can use the Find Starlink website to input the name of a location, or the exact coordinates, and the website will inform you of the upcoming time the satellites will be visible. Additionally, it offers precise directions on where to locate them in the sky.

An instance of satellites being visible in London is expected to occur on Thursday, October 26th, at 6:26 pm.

You may catch a glimpse of satellites during specific times in the north of England and Scotland. On Monday October 23rd, keep an eye out at 7:50pm, and on Tuesday October 24th, observe the skies starting at 7:53pm.

The people of Birmingham will have the opportunity to observe them at 7:50 pm on Monday, whereas in Bristol, they can be seen one minute ahead of time.

Visibility periods are short and fleeting, usually lasting just a few minutes. To make the most of this opportunity, you need to act fast. The night sky must be clear of clouds and light pollution in the area should be minimal for optimal visibility.

The company SpaceX is working on a project called Starlink, which is a collection of satellites designed to provide internet access to people worldwide, including remote regions.

One thing that makes it different from the usual fibre and broadband internet used in the UK is that it doesn't depend on infrastructure that is on the ground. Instead, it transmits data through its group of satellites. This allows it to offer internet access to areas that are hard to connect online, which is usually remote places.

At present, there are approximately 5,000 satellites revolving around the Earth that belong to SpaceX.

The website for Starlink provides an explanation that most internet services that use satellites come from only one geostationary satellite that circles the Earth at a distance of 35,786km.

Consequently, the duration for data to travel from the user to the satellite and back, commonly referred to as latency, is extended. This creates a great challenge for using bandwidth-intensive activities such as live streaming, gaming online, video conferencing, and other data-intensive events.

Starlink is a cluster of numerous satellites that revolve around our planet but at a closer proximity, approximately 550km, and provide complete global coverage. Due to their low orbit, the delay in communication is much lesser, roughly 25ms in contrast to the customary 600+ms.

Starlink has been offering internet services to Ukraine despite the invasion by Russia. Nevertheless, this has sparked some disagreement.

Earlier this year, Mr. Musk's rising power was featured in a New Yorker report. The article stated that he removed Starlink communication services from war zones, which led to Ukraine suffering casualties and having to pull back.

Colin Kahl, who previously served as the under secretary of defence for the United States, expressed that the individual in question had become worried about Starlink's apparent involvement in Ukraine's war efforts, which was gaining increasing notice in Russia. As a result, this person was searching for a solution to calm and address Russian concerns.

Astronomers are questioning the use of Starlink due to its satellites adding to the already crowded space in orbit. This type of satellite could potentially impact observations made for astronomical purposes. As a result, some controversies have arisen regarding its use.

"Starlink In UK: Availability?"

Starlink internet service has been accessible in the United Kingdom for a year now, but it comes with a hefty price tag and is not a viable option to pick over regular broadband providers due to its coverage limitations within the UK.

The starting price for the basic kit is £449, but you also have the option to rent it for a monthly fee of £15.

For a regular subscription, you have to pay an extra £75 per month. But if you choose the priority subscription, then you'll have to pay £180. With the priority subscription, you'll enjoy quicker upload and download speeds.

As stated on Starlink's website, people in the UK can enjoy internet speeds ranging from 100-230Mbps, which is in line with many fiber-optic internet companies.