30 strong convoy of high altitude aircraft just passed overhead

J_V_C

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone out there witnessed this over Wicklow about 10 minutes ago. It looked like a long line of satellites passing straight over head but there was no noise at all, completely silent before during and after.

According to my brother, who just saw it, and found the whole thing quite remarkable, it was heading west to east. He also said some of the satellites were in triangular formations and that several peeled off from the main convoy to go due south.

What on earth do you make of that?

SlowBlowin

Spacex Starlink train.. check Heavens Above.com

Tenzor07

Starlink: https://youtu.be/l58nWIvyYs0

TeaPot918

Yup Starlink, just watched it myself, International space station will pass at 21:14 if ye want to go outside again

J_V_C

Jeez, I'd like to see that, thanks guys :}

Collie D

That’s pretty cool. Would they pass over here regularly? Never seen or heard of that before.

_Brian

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Starlink: https://youtu.be/l58nWIvyYs0

That’s remarkable

paddylonglegs

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Starlink: https://youtu.be/l58nWIvyYs0

Watching that, all I’m hearing in my head is “holidays are coming, holidays are coming”

_Brian

TeaPot918 wrote: »

Yup Starlink, just watched it myself, International space station will pass at 21:14 if ye want to go outside again

Willl that train be visible with it ?

Darksoul

Would it be roughly the same time visible down in tipp then?

Darksoul

Would it be roughly the same time visible down in tipp then?

bilston

paddylonglegs wrote: »

Watching that, all I’m hearing in my head is “holidays are coming, holidays are coming”

That would be amazing to show the kids on Christmas Eve!

Doyler92

I googled it but still can’t really understand its purpose. Can anybody explain to somebody who knows nothing about aviation?

GarIT

Doyler92 wrote: »

I googled it but still can’t really understand its purpose. Can anybody explain to somebody who knows nothing about aviation?

They are satellites being sent up to provide high speed broadband globally. These are the things making the national broadband plan irrelevant before they start work on it.

touts

It is a satellite network Elon Musk is putting into orbit to provide global high speed broadband. Right now they have just over 200 satellites in orbit. They plan to put something like 27,000 in orbit in the next few years. What you saw tonight was just one train of around 60 satellites. By 2027 the night sky as we know it will be full of them. It will look like a net of moving stars covering the sky. I don't think people realise just how big a change this is going to be but Space-x can do it because no government really has control over it.

hairyslug

Not gonna lie, thought OP was trolling, also not gonna lie, if I saw that myself without knowing what it was, I'd probably **** myself

Don’t mention Starlink if you are in the company of astronomers. You could get lynched......

Big Nasty

Is there specific dates / times this can be seen?

Nunu

TeaPot918 wrote: »

Yup Starlink, just watched it myself, International space station will pass at 21:14 if ye want to go outside again

Pure luck I read your post at 21:12. Just got a great look at it.

BarryD2

touts wrote: »

It is a satellite network Elon Musk is putting into orbit to provide global high speed broadband. Right now they have just over 200 satellites in orbit. They plan to put something like 27,000 in orbit in the next few years. What you saw tonight was just one train of around 60 satellites. By 2027 the night sky as we know it will be full of them. It will look like a net of moving stars covering the sky. I don't think people realise just how big a change this is going to be but Space-x can do it because no government really has control over it.

Not April 1st yet, is it? Jaysus is all I can say, if that youtube video is real.

Wheety

Nunu wrote: »

Pure luck I read your post at 21:12. Just got a great look at it.

Think I saw it. Looks like a really bright star but has flashing lights to the side?

J_V_C

The brother's a bit skeptical about the Space X explanation.
It doesn't explain the configuration of what he believes was a convoy of some sort, nor the deviations in direction.

L1011

J_V_C wrote: »

The brother's a bit skeptical about the Space X explanation.
It doesn't explain the configuration of what he believes was a convoy of some sort, nor the deviations in direction.

He can be sceptical all he wants; it wasn't 30 aircraft.

Hamsterchops

touts wrote: »

It is a satellite network Elon Musk is putting into orbit to provide global high speed broadband. Right now they have just over 200 satellites in orbit. They plan to put something like 27,000 in orbit in the next few years. What you saw tonight was just one train of around 60 satellites. By 2027 the night sky as we know it will be full of them. It will look like a net of moving stars covering the sky. I don't think people realise just how big a change this is going to be but Space-x can do it because no government really has control over it.

Quite amazing,
Like Wow!

At the 1st post I wasn't sure if it was for real or not. Never seen anything like this before in reality.

MrMusician18

This white elephant of Musk's is going to ruin the night sky and astronomy.

loveall

www.findstarlink.com has the times visible in your area.

Stepping Stone

MrMusician18 wrote: »

This white elephant of Musk's is going to ruin the night sky and astronomy.

Throughly depressing thought. I really struggle to find any positives in him. Environmental vandalism is the only way to describe it.

dhaughton99

Not scheduled for another 5 days over Ireland.

endacl

Doyler92 wrote: »

I googled it but still can’t really understand its purpose. Can anybody explain to somebody who knows nothing about aviation?

Big bright shiny dots Elon Musk sent up into space to inflate his ego and balls up visual astronomy.

dhaughton99

Doyler92 wrote: »

I googled it but still can’t really understand its purpose. Can anybody explain to somebody who knows nothing about aviation?

It’s space, not aviation. A trail of 60 plus small satellites which solar panels are reflecting the light you are seeing. They are bunched up together but will separate over time. They are supposed to be to able to supply internet access when fully setu.

Big Nasty

dhaughton99 wrote: »

Not scheduled for another 5 days over Ireland.

Around what time?