When you can see Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite train in Australia

Stargazers have spotted a strange trail of lights in the sky over Victoria on Saturday night.

Victorians took to social media to share photos of the unusual event, which looked like a train of lights travelling across the night sky.

The lights turned out to be Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite train as it made its way across the state overnight.

The low-orbiting satellites, owned by US company SpaceX, were first launched in 2019 and have been spotted all over the world. Starlink is used to provide high speed internet to remote areas.

People living in country Victorian towns like Ballarat, Wangaratta, Rochester and Korumburra were able to see the satellite train from their homes, with one Reddit user describing the moment they saw it.

“Living rural I can see them quite well. They don’t look that weird until you see the procession of them, each coming into view on the same line and fading at the other end of the sky,” they posted to social media.

“Definitely weird to see the first time.”

Another user said they could only see satellites for “about 10 to 30 seconds”.

“I wondered what they were, tried shining a torch on them … then realised what they were,” one Victorian resident posted to Facebook.

One Facebook user said the first time they saw the lights passing overhead, they thought it was an alien sighting and others said the satellites looked like UFOs flying above.

“We totally get how it could be misunderstood as UFOs, it looks so otherworldly! It was a delight to witness,” one lady said.

Stargazers in other states may be able to see the satellite train as it continues its journey around the Earth.

According to the Find Starlink website, the satellite train may be visible over the next few days in the following locations and their surrounds:

• Perth, March 5, 8pm
• Adelaide, March 5, 8:56pm
• Sydney, March 6, 8pm
• Brisbane, March 6, 7pm and March 7, 7:11pm

To check what time the satellites will be visible in different locations, visit the Find Starlink website.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• satellite train: a series of satellites travelling the same altitude and speed
• low-orbiting: orbiting closer to the Earth than traditional satellites
• procession: a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion
• otherworldly: not from Earth

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QUICK QUIZ
What was the strange string of lights seen by stargazers?
What is a satellite train?
What is Starlink used for?
In which Australian state were the lights spotted?
What did some stargazers think the lights were at first?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Stargazing Starlink
If you weren’t aware of these Starlink satellites, as a lot of people weren’t, what explanations might you have thought of when seeing these unusual lights in the sky?

Currently there are no laws or regulations to protect how the night sky looks, and how these bright satellites might affect stargazers and the natural beauty of the night sky.

What process should SpaceX and any other organisation have to undertake before releasing things into orbit?
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Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Think of a name for the Starlink satellite trail to easily identify what they are when people see them in the night sky.

How should the company communicate information to the public about these events happening in orbit?

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Starlight story openers
This activity not only enhances vocabulary and creative writing skills but also introduces students to the art of crafting engaging story openers, a crucial aspect of effective storytelling.

1. Introduction (two minutes):
– Briefly discuss with the students what they know about satellites and the Starlink satellite train mentioned in the article.

– Explain that they will create story openers based on this celestial event.

2. Brainstorm (three minutes):
– Ask students to work in pairs to brainstorm words or phrases related to the night sky, satellites and unusual lights in pairs.

– Encourage them to think about emotions, colours and the sense of wonder associated with stargazing.

3. Write your starlight story openers (five minutes):
– Provide each pair of students with a piece of paper or their notebooks.

– Instruct them to write three different story openers inspired by the Starlink satellite train.

– Remind them to use interesting words, descriptive phrases and maybe even a touch of mystery to capture the reader’s attention.

4. Share and discuss (one minute):
– Invite a few pairs to share one of their story openers with the class.

– Discuss what makes a captivating story opener and how words and phrases can set the mood for a story.

Example story openers for modelling:
1. In the quiet town of Ballarat, where the night sky usually whispered secrets to those who listened, a trail of celestial lights appeared, painting a story only the stars knew.

2. Under the velvet cloak of the midnight sky, a mysterious procession of lights danced, catching the attention of the small town of Wangaratta. No one knew then that the universe had decided to put on a spectacular show.

3. As the clock struck darkness over Korumburra, a fleet of lights glided across the celestial canvas, leaving the residents in awe. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey beyond their wildest dreams.

Extension:
– Encourage students to illustrate one of their story openers.

– Discuss how different openers set the tone for various types of stories (mystery, adventure, science fiction, etc.).

– Challenge them to use at least one interesting vocabulary word in each opener.