Did you see the mysterious lights in the sky over Charlotte? Here’s what we know
People in Charlotte have spent a lot of time gazing at the sky lately.
Within the past several days, residents have reported online sightings of what appeared to be a line of lights hovering over the city.
“Did anyone just see this??” a commenter on the website Nextdoor recently asked in a message accompanied by a photo of an unidentified light source positioned among the stars.
Was it a UFO? Aliens? A space phenomenon?
What was witnessed were Starlink satellites. Here’s what they are and their purpose:
What are Starlink satellites?
Starlink, developed by Elon Musk-owned SpaceX, is a network of satellites that orbit the planet to provide internet service worldwide.
“Most satellite internet services come from single geostationary satellites that orbit the planet at 35,786 km,” according to the Starlink website. “Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that orbit the planet much closer to Earth, at about 550km, and cover the entire globe.”
Why did we see Starlink satellites in Charlotte?
According to WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich, “SpaceX frequently launches new satellites into space to join its growing network.”
On a clear night and with minimal light pollution, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the satellites in orbit, Panovich said.
The longtime Charlotte meteorologist notes that the satellites “are easiest to spot within days of their launch.”
“Once the Starlink satellites reach an operating altitude of about 340 miles, they disperse and can look like stars in the night sky,” he explained in a recent post about Starlink. “Eventually, shields are deployed, making them virtually impossible to see with the naked eye.”
Panovich further explained that the satellites reflect sunlight, which makes them look like UFOs or some other space objects.
How to see Starlink in Charlotte
The website Findstarlink.com is a source that tracks when satellites can be seen worldwide.
“The satellites move really fast and travel the entire world in 90 minutes. Every 90 minutes, they return to the same point,” the website states. “That’s why sometimes you can see them again within 2 hours of a previous sighting.”
The next time the Starlink satellites will be visible in Charlotte, according to the website, is 5:38 a.m. Saturday.