How to Find Starlink Satellites Tonight and See the Starlink Train

~10 min
Topics:Space MissionsSkywatchingTutorials
Starlink Tracker – How to find Starlink satellites
©Vito Technology, Inc.

Want to see a chain of bright lights crossing the night sky? You just need to know when and where to look! The Satellite Tracker app will tell you when the Starlink satellites will be visible in your exact location. Read on to learn about the upcoming Starlink launches and get detailed instructions on how to track Elon Musk's satellites in your sky!

Contents

When people talk about visible Starlink satellites, they usually mean satellite trains – the moving lights gliding across the sky in a straight line. They look strange enough to spark plenty of UFO reports: a string of bright dots, evenly spaced, moving with almost unnatural precision. Doesn’t it look suspicious? And yet, these satellites are not mysterious visitors; they are launched by SpaceX as part of a vast network designed to provide internet coverage around the world.

A Starlink train looks very different from most other objects in the night sky. Here is what to watch for:

  • The satellites move in a straight line across the sky.
  • They appear as several separate lights, not one single object.
  • The lights shine steadily rather than flashing like an airplane.
  • You may see them clearly, but you will hear no sound.
  • They move quickly and are usually visible for only a short time, often crossing the sky in a few minutes.

Starlink satellites appear as evenly spaced moving lights for only one to three days after launch. As they rise to their working orbit, about 550 kilometers (340 miles) above Earth, they gradually spread out. The neat luminous chain breaks apart, and the Starlink satellites blend into the background, turning into individual faint points of light, indistinguishable from any other satellite.

Starlink satellite train
A Starlink satellite train appears as a string of bright, evenly spaced lights, drifting across the sky in an almost perfectly straight line. It's a spectacular sight – both futuristic and slightly surreal.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

Starlink satellites offer a spectacular sight – they look like a train of bright spots in the night sky. You can easily see them with the naked eye if you know where and when to look. Here are some tips to help you spot the moving lights in the sky from your location.

Check the Timing Carefully

Like all artificial satellites orbiting Earth, Starlinks can be observed when the sky is dark enough for observation, while the satellites themselves are still lit by the Sun – which is shortly before sunrise or just after sunset.

Starlink trains are visible for only one to three minutes during the pass, so start watching about five minutes before it to catch the very first satellites – if you begin exactly at the stated time, you may spend those first crucial moments finding the right direction to look, letting your eyes adjust, and the satellites may already be gone. For the exact time of the satellite passes in your area, use a satellite-tracking tool.

Mobile apps are one of the most convenient satellite-tracking tools. They are always at hand, provide real-time information, and offer a range of features to help users locate satellites. Many of them can operate without the Internet, which means you can use them anywhere around the globe.

Find a Dark Viewing Spot

To give yourself the best chance of seeing a Starlink satellite train, head for the darkest location you can find and let your eyes adjust fully to the dark. Avoid streetlights, bright phone screens, and any other artificial light – even a quick glance can ruin your night vision. Also, aim for the locations with an open horizon: the larger the visible part of the sky, the greater the chance that a Starlink train will pass through it. You do not need binoculars or a telescope to see a Starlink train. In fact, it is best enjoyed with the naked eye.

Satellite Tracker: Locate All Satellites

The Satellite Tracker app is explicitly designed to locate and identify satellites. Use it to see the satellite’s trajectory on the Earth’s map or the real night sky. The app also shows a 3D model of the satellite in its current position above the Earth. Use the three buttons at the bottom of the main screen to switch between the three display modes.

To find Starlink via Satellite Tracker, tap the satellite icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Choose the “All” tab and scroll down until you find the “SpaceX’s Starlink” section. Then, choose the launch you’re interested in and tap the “Track” button next to one or multiple satellites to add them to your tracking list. Tap one of the satellites you are interested in to select it, then return to the main screen.

How to find Starlinks via Satellite Tracker
Download Satellite Tracker for free and get a powerful tool for spotting satellites in real-time.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

To locate the satellite in the sky above you, tap the far right button on the bottom panel of the main screen and follow the white arrow to see where the satellite is right now.

The “Next pass” timer counts the time left until the next flyby of the selected satellite over your location. To set a reminder, tap the timer and the alarm clock button in the drop-down list.

Use Sky Tonight to get free information about the current location of Starlink satellites. The minimalist design and flexible search system make it easy for everyone to use.

In Sky Tonight, you can find Starlink launch groups – this is much easier for those who want to see the Starlink "train". Tap the magnifier icon and open the search menu. Then, type "Starlink" into the search field and choose the satellite group you want to track. Tap the blue target icon, and the app will show the group’s position on the sky map. Tap the big blue button or point your device up and follow the white arrow to find it in the real sky.

Starlink groups via Sky Tonight
Never miss an upcoming Starlink flyby with Sky Tonight – one of the most convenient tools for finding and tracking celestial objects.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

To set reminders for all future visible flyby events, tap the satellite group you want to track in the Search menu. Then go to the Events tab and tap “View all” next to the Visible Passes. You'll then see all the passes for that satellite group that are visible from your location. Tap the bell icon in the top right corner of the screen to set repeated reminders for all these passes.

Watch how to set up reminders for any event in the Sky Tonight app.

Star Walk 2: Enjoy Beautiful Graphics

The Star Walk 2 stargazing app shows the locations of various celestial objects, including Starlink satellites. Here, you can also find information about the satellites and their accurate 3D models.

To find Starlink via Star Walk 2, tap the magnifier icon. Then, tap on the satellite icon in the bottom bar of the search panel. Find the latest launched Starlinks at the top of the “Main Satellites” list. To track a specific mission, scroll down to the “SpaceX’s Starlink” section and tap the mission's name to see the satellite list. Tap on a satellite to get accurate information on its position and trajectory.

How to track Starlinks via Star Walk 2
Open Star Walk 2 and enjoy the view of the satellites floating overhead against the backdrop of stylized constellations.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

You can use Star Walk 2 to find a chosen satellite in the night sky above you. Follow our tutorial and spot satellites with ease.

Several websites will also help you to view Starlink satellites.

  • On the Heavens-Above website, you can get predictions about Starlinks’ passes in the special section dedicated to these satellites. Select the mission you’re interested in, set the date, and get the information on the next satellites’ pass. Or look for Starlink satellites through the “Satellite Database” section.
  • On the N2YO.com, you can type the name of a Starlink satellite in the search field, and the tool will show you its position and trajectory. Moreover, it will help you track satellites you’re interested in, get 10-day predictions, and complete information about them.
  • On the findstarlink.com website, you can learn when the Starlink satellite trains are expected to be visible at a specific place. Enter the name or coordinates of the desired location to get a list of flybys sorted by visibility. Also, check the Live Map to see satellite trajectories on a world map.

There are plenty of satellite-tracking websites to choose from, but not all of them work well on a smartphone. They also require an Internet connection, so if you are heading somewhere remote for better skies, it is best to check the satellite’s path and flyby time in advance on your computer or use a satellite-tracking app.

Starlink satellites are not equally easy to see on every pass. Their visibility depends on a satellite design, its current orbit, sky conditions, and viewing geometry.

One of the biggest factors is sunlight. Starlink satellites are easiest to spot when it is dark on the ground but they are still illuminated by the Sun, which is shortly after sunset or right before sunrise.

Another key factor is the satellite version. Earlier Starlink satellites were more reflective and therefore easier to spot, but they also caused more problems for other astronomical observations. In response to concerns from astronomers, SpaceX introduced darker and less reflective designs – DarkSat and later VisorSat. Since 2020, newer Starlink satellites have gotten much dimmer, especially once they reach their operational orbit, where they typically reach magnitudes around 5 to 7, making them faint and harder to see, especially under light-polluted skies.

Visibility also changes with time after launch. A newly launched batch is usually much easier to notice because the satellites are still flying close together, creating the famous Starlink train. As they spread out and climb to their working orbits, the individual satellites become less obvious.

Finally, observing conditions on the ground matter a lot. Even if a pass is technically visible, clouds, city lights, twilight, or a low path near the horizon can make the satellites much harder to see.

Keep track of the deployment of the world's largest satellite constellation! Watch for the latest breaking updates, quickly find out how many Starlink satellites are in orbit at the moment, and learn details about recent launches. Track all the launched satellites using the following apps:

On April 18, at 14:33 GMT (April 18, 10:33 a.m. EDT), SpaceX will launch the 381st batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink internet constellation. This mission will boost the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,825 units.

On April 15, at 04:29 GMT (April 15, 12:29 a.m. EDT), SpaceX launched the 380th batch of 25 Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. This mission boosted the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,800 units.

On April 14, at 09:33 GMT (April 14, 5:33 a.m. EDT), SpaceX launched the 379th batch of 29 Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. This mission boosted the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,775 units.

On April 11, at 05:04 GMT (April 11, 1:04 a.m. EDT), SpaceX launched the 378th batch of 25 Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. This mission boosted the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,746 units.

On April 7, at 02:50 GMT (April 6, 10:50 p.m. EDT), SpaceX launched the 377th batch of 25 Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. This mission boosted the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,721 units.

On April 2, at 11:55 GMT (April 2, 7:55 a.m. EDT), SpaceX launched the 376th batch of 29 Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. This mission boosted the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 11,696 units.

You can read about previous Starlink missions in our article.

What are the strange moving lights in the sky tonight?

The weird-looking moving lights in the sky may be Starlink satellites, not aliens! A Starlink satellite train looks like a string of evenly spaced, bright dots gliding quickly across the sky, usually visible for a few minutes after its appearance.

Starlink pass times depend on your location and date, so there is no single universal schedule. Use an app like Satellite Tracker to find the next Starlink passes over your area. This app shows the exact local time for satellite passes and allows you to set notifications.

Starlink satellites are usually easiest to see shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when the sky is dark enough for viewing, but the satellites are still reflecting sunlight. The exact time depends on your location and the launch time.

Starlink is a large satellite system that aims to provide high-speed Internet service to even the most remote areas of Earth. It has been developed and constructed by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX since 2015.

SpaceX sends a number of satellites on each launch. Traveling along similar orbits, these satellites initially appear as a closely spaced line. This is what we see as the "train". The Starlink satellite "train" is often mistaken for a UFO due to its rather unusual appearance. Check out our useful infographic on other man-made objects that are often mistaken for UFOs.

UFO Infographic: Sky
What are those strange lights in the sky? Uncover the truth behind UFO sightings! 🛸 Explore our infographic to discover how everyday objects can masquerade as mysterious aerial phenomena. 🎆 From colorful lights to spiraling formations, you'll never believe what's really up there!
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As of 2026, there are over 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. Eventually, SpaceX plans to build a massive constellation of 12,000 satellites, with a possible expansion to 42,000 satellites later on. Watch the video to see how the number of Starlink satellites in the Earth’s orbit has changed over time.

Starlink satellites circle Earth about once every 90 minutes, so under the right conditions, the same train can sometimes be visible more than once in a single night. After launch, Starlink satellites usually remain tightly grouped into a line of moving lights for about 1 to 3 days. Since SpaceX launches Starlink missions frequently – often several times a week – there is a good chance of spotting one, especially if you check the forecast in advance and plan your observation well.

The rapid growth of the Starlink megaconstellation has raised concerns about how thousands of satellites may affect both astronomy and the near-Earth environment. The main worries are that their reflected sunlight can interfere with observations of the night sky, and that an increasingly crowded orbit could raise the risk of collisions and more space junk. To address these issues, SpaceX introduced darker satellite designs in 2020 – DarkSat and later VisorSat. Since the Starlink-8 mission, all newly launched Starlink satellites have anti-reflective surfaces. The company has also said that satellites that stop working are designed to deorbit within about five years.

Starlink satellite trains are visible for a few days after launch, either shortly before dawn or right after sunset. They cross the sky as a line of bright, moving lights, providing an exciting, otherworldly view. Timing is crucial to follow the Starlink satellite trains, so it’s best to use a tool that lets you set reminders for visible passes, such as the Satellite Tracker mobile app.

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Topics:Space MissionsSkywatchingTutorials
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