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Starlink in Dublin

  • 08-04-2020 7:10pm
    #1
    Beersmith
    Registered Users Posts: 1,392 ✭✭✭


    I've been trying to see the starlink satellites with the naked eye the last few weeks and can't, im using apps to get the time and location but maybe ita just the light pollution in Dublin.

    For reference on a clear night i can easily see orions belt.

    Is it just not possible to see them in the city lets say within the m50?


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Comments

  • #2
    WHL
    Registered Users Posts: 524 ✭✭✭WHL


    I saw them about ten days ago In Cork City but they are dimmer than the space station so not as easy to see. From following VirtualAstro on Twitter they are difficult at present because the moon is so bright. Apparently they will be easier to see in a few weeks. Also the sky hasn’t been fully dark here when they went over in the last week or so.
    Use the link https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/ to tell you where to look and at what time (there are 14 of them at 9.53 tonight)


  • #3
    upupup
    Registered Users Posts: 605 ✭✭✭upupup


    Starlink 5,6 is the only train left visible to the naked eye.The other trains are too spread out.I'v been looking out for it but cloud cover has been a problem all week.
    I'v checked out the weather for next week and tues14 and wed15 morning may be clear enough to see starlink 5,6.
    https://findstarlink.com/#742;3


  • #4
    ps200306
    Registered Users Posts: 1,589 ✭✭✭ps200306


    Beersmith wrote: »
    I've been trying to see the starlink satellites with the naked eye the last few weeks and can't, im using apps to get the time and location but maybe ita just the light pollution in Dublin.

    For reference on a clear night i can easily see orions belt.

    Is it just not possible to see them in the city lets say within the m50?
    I saw them a couple of months ago from south Dublin just inside the M50 but it wasn't trivial to spot them even on a good clear night. I needed the magnitude to be below 3.0 or so, and even then I could only see them when above approx. 50 degrees altitude. That was after giving my eyes a fair bit of dark adjustment time, and looking up to the east so as not to be put off by twilight in the west. That meant the sats were coming over your head from behind.


  • #5
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    they only seem to be visible in the wee hours :( any chance they'll pass during the evening time?


  • #6
    ps200306
    Registered Users Posts: 1,589 ✭✭✭ps200306


    fryup wrote: »
    they only seem to be visible in the wee hours :( any chance they'll pass during the evening time?
    They'll come around to evening time eventually. They're always within an hour or two of sunset or sunrise.


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  • #7
    upupup
    Registered Users Posts: 605 ✭✭✭upupup


    Another 60 being launched next thurs 16th@21.30.
    I believe they are at their brightest just after launchhttps://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/


  • #8
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭4068ac1elhodqr


    It'll be some craic when there's 20,000 of the yokes up there, and Musk want's to sail to Mars, sure he'll only collide with these on the way up towards the red planet.


  • #9
    JL555
    Registered Users Posts: 288 ✭✭JL555


    fryup wrote: »
    they only seem to be visible in the wee hours :( any chance they'll pass during the evening time?

    I've only ever seen them shortly after sunset or the darkness before sunrise. In the dead of night I've not seen them at all.


  • #10
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    upupup wrote: »
    Another 60 being launched next thurs 16th@21.30.

    another 60 :eek: surely this will only contribute to space junk?? is there any limit to the amount of satellites in orbit?


  • #11
    upupup
    Registered Users Posts: 605 ✭✭✭upupup


    fryup wrote: »
    another 60 :eek: surely this will only contribute to space junk?? is there any limit to the amount of satellites in orbit?

    The plan is 60 every two weeks for the rest of the year.12,000 is the goal for now which might be extended to 42,000:eek:


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  • #12
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    and who gave him the greenlight to do this?

    * and no mention of it on tonight's Sky at Night


  • #13
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    a few bright evening passes this weekend

    https://findstarlink.com/#744;3


  • #14
    g0g
    Registered Users Posts: 2,777 ✭✭✭g0g


    Am I reading right that tonight has a few passes? Clear sky so might be perfect! Brightest one after 2300?


  • #15
    SCOOP 64
    Registered Users Posts: 5,206 ✭✭✭SCOOP 64


    g0g wrote: »
    Am I reading right that tonight has a few passes? Clear sky so might be perfect! Brightest one after 2300?
    hope so still never seen it!


  • #16
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Good one coming up tonight:

    https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/


  • #17
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Showtime...


  • #18
    catrat12
    Registered Users Posts: 470 ✭✭catrat12


    Thargor wrote: »
    Showtime...

    What’s happening


  • #19
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Well that was a bit of a damp squib tbh, never more than 3 moving in the sky at once, to read about it you'd think there was some amazing train of lights in the sky.

    Never saw Venus that bright though, its massive in the sky tonight.


  • #20
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    maybe its the early morning passes that are bright?


  • #21
    Thargor
    Registered Users Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Maybe, or maybe you need to see them right after launch before they disperse?

    That comet that was supposed to have a chance of being the best one in years has apparently broken up and wont be visible at all now by the way:

    https://www.space.com/comet-swan-arrives-as-comet-atlas-crumbles.html


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  • #22
    SouthWesterly
    Registered Users Posts: 6,452 ✭✭✭SouthWesterly


    I was out in relatively dark skies and saw nothing earlier this evening


  • #23
    Ghost Train
    Registered Users Posts: 30,019 ✭✭✭✭Ghost Train


    https://twitter.com/AstronomyIRL/status/1257377415178989569?s=19

    Might be be visible in next half hour if sky is clear....


  • #24
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    i'm surprised astronomy ireland are giving the heads up to this, thought they consider it a pest


  • #25
    SCOOP 64
    Registered Users Posts: 5,206 ✭✭✭SCOOP 64


    Anyone seen this? clear night tonight, nothing.


  • #26
    mobby
    Registered Users Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭mobby


    nope saw nothing.


  • #27
    Oscar Bravo
    Registered Users Posts: 10,058 ✭✭✭✭Oscar Bravo


    on the plus side there is a bright pass from the ISS at 0422 for night owls


  • #28
    Pat Dunne
    Registered Users Posts: 3,000 ✭✭✭Pat Dunne


    fryup wrote: »
    i'm surprised astronomy ireland are giving the heads up to this, thought they consider it a pest

    I recall late last year the general consensus from the Astronomy Community was one of “horrified” with regard to the scale of the launches and the potential interference to Astro Photography and Observation of the existing night sky.


  • #29
    fryup
    Registered Users Posts: 18,069 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    ^^^^^^^

    and is that still the case ?


  • #30
    feet of flame
    Registered Users Posts: 55 ✭✭feet of flame


    Oscar Bravo wrote: »
    on the plus side there is a bright pass from the ISS at 0422 for night owls

    I think you mean for early risers :)


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  • #31
    4068ac1elhodqr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,586 ✭✭✭4068ac1elhodqr


    meh, think I'll wait for the 20,000 or so, that way won't miss them (or won't be able to).

    Do however wonder what some of those indigenous tribes on the upper Amazon would think, even seeing a dozen of 'em in sequence streaking across the sky.


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