Technology
Stargazing Brits report seeing ‘line of lights’ across sky as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite soars over UK
STARGAZING Brits have reported seeing a “line of lights” across the sky as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite soars over the UK.
Confused skywatchers, who “had never seen anything like it,” took it to Twitter asking if anyone else had spotted a string of lights across the sky.
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Brits reported a line of lights in the sky[/caption]
A Twitter user wrote: “Anyone else see a line of lights moving north over the south east?
“I saw a couple and though it could be military helicopters but there were 20-30+.
“They were going overhead for about 5 minutes. Never seen anything like it.”
Another one said: “Just saw a line of hundreds of lights go over. All in a straight line. Anyone else see this? What are they?
“I’m freaking out.”
While a third one added: “Nah guys we just saw a long line of lights going across the night sky, like a fleet of space ships, please tell me you got an explanation for me!
“Is it Elon Musk’s drone satellites or some shit? Cause we didn’t like seeing them! Couldn’t film them no ones camera would pick em up!”
One said: “Do anyone know what this was in the sky tonight a long line of lights and I mean loads #strangelightsoveruk.”
Another one added:”Just saw a lot of (many dozens) small lights moving in a perfect line across the sky to the east. I hope it’s not the 3rd world war beginning.”
And one even thought it could be a UFO: “Anyone notice a string of lights flying through the night sky right now?? Could be planes/satellites/UFOs but there are DOZENS of them going across the sky in a perfect line right now??!”
Twitter users said they had never seen anything like it[/caption]
Just saw a line of hundreds of lights go over. All in a straight line. Anyone else see this? What are they?
— Annabel
(@annaberu) May 8, 2021
Nah guys we just saw a long line of lights going across the night sky, like a fleet of space ships, please tell me you got an explanation for me! Is it Elon Musk’s drone satellites or some shit? Cause we didn’t like seeing them! Couldn’t film them no ones camera would pick em up!
— Chrissy Lady Ditty
(@ChrissysRants) May 8, 2021
There are plenty of ways to track Starlink craft as they soar through the night sky.
The SpaceX venture beams internet down to Earth from space using an ever-growing constellation of satellites.
There are hundreds of Starlink units circling above Earth, and thousands more planned.
Musk’s SpaceX began offering Starlink to customers in select countries earlier this year.
A single deposit costs $99/£89.
And Musk has already bagged 500,000 customers to date.
Sadly, the pre-order doesn’t guarantee service – which means the deposits are totally refundable.
But Musk reckons almost all of the pre-order customers will ultimately get service, despite the caveat.
“Only limitation is high density of users in urban areas,” said Elon Musk, in a tweet.
“Most likely, all of the initial 500k will receive service.
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“More of a challenge when we get into the several million user range.”
Musk intends to put 12,000 satellites into Earth’s orbit over next decade, possibly rising to 42,000 in future.
The “mega-constellation” will eventually be able to beam internet coverage to anywhere on the planet, according to SpaceX.
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