Latest news with #HeavensAbove
Style Blueprint
2 days ago
- Science
- Style Blueprint
What's That Glowing Line in the Sky?
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit If you've ever looked up at the night sky and thought, 'What the [bleep] is that UFO-looking glowing line in the sky moving stealthily across the starry night?' You've likely then shouted, '[Friend or family member's name], YOU GOTTA COME SEE THIS!' and frantically Googled, only to find out that it's not aliens (sadly), but one of the flashiest new additions to our modern skies: Starlink. Pin I recently witnessed this phenomenon on a recent trip to Lake Martin in Alabama with my in-laws over Memorial Day weekend. We were all in awe. We had no idea what we were seeing, and we also had no idea that Starlink existed. For the uninitiated, Starlink is a project by SpaceX aimed at building a massive satellite network thousands strong to deliver high-speed internet to places traditional cables and cell towers can't reach. The goal is WiFi for the entire planet. More on the feasibility of this in a bit. The 'satellite train' phenomenon started grabbing attention around 2019, when SpaceX launched its first big batch of satellites. Instead of discreetly slipping into orbit one at a time, these suckers show up in formation, reflecting sunlight and looking a little too organized. They're like glowing pearls on a necklace if the necklace were hurling itself across the sky at 17,000 miles per hour. That means a satellite completes one orbit around the globe roughly every 90 minutes. People who see them for the first time often describe the display as 'creepy,' 'majestic,' or 'a UFO sighting that made me scream in front of my neighbors.' And honestly? It's that weird. The way they move — little bright lines gliding in a perfect, silent line — feels more like a sci-fi movie than anything nature could cook up. This YouTuber captured a fantastic video: So, when can you see them? Timing is everything. Starlink trains are easiest to spot shortly after a new launch (SpaceX loves to launch at all hours), and typically just after sunset or before sunrise. That's when the satellites are high enough to catch sunlight, but it's dark enough down here to see them. You can track upcoming sightings using websites like Heavens Above or apps like Find Starlink. Not everyone is clapping for Elon's sky parade. Astronomers have been wary about the operation for years, arguing that the bright satellites interfere with telescopes and long-exposure images. SpaceX has responded by adding 'sunshades' to reduce reflectivity, but the issue's far from solved. Also, as satellites reach the end of their lifespan and deorbit, they can create space debris, potentially posing a collision risk to other satellites and spacecraft. Still, Starlink is doing some good down here on Earth. It's already bringing internet to remote villages, disaster zones, and off-grid places. So while it may look like a space train to nowhere, it's actually delivering some pretty vital services to people who need them most. It's helping the aid worker in a war-torn country, the nomad vlogging in their tricked-out RV, and many people in between. But Starlink is pretty expensive. The dish kit can run up to $599, then internet service ranges from $80 to $120 a month. Have you seen the glowing satellite snake slinking across the sky? Tell us over on Instagram! ********** Give your inbox the Southern makeover it deserves! Subscribe to our daily emails HERE! About the Author Zoe Yarborough Zoe is a StyleBlueprint staff writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant of eleven years. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How To Track The Dead Soviet Lander Falling Back To Earth Soon
Last week we learned that Kosmos 482 (sometimes referred to as Cosmos 482 or the Venera 8 landing module) is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere sometime in early May after spending over half a century stuck in Earth's orbit. The Soviet spacecraft was originally designed for a mission to the surface of Venus and built for the task of surviving that world's crushing pressures. As a result, and unlike most hunks of space junk that re-enter, this half-ton oven-sized beast is likely to impact the surface of Earth. Or at least part of it will. There's never been a credible report of any person actually being injured by falling space debris, although we have seen some property damage, to be sure. But as threats from space go, it's the bigger space rocks that present far more concern versus manufactured artifacts making an out-of-control return back to their home world. Still, Kosmos 482 is an unusual case given its ruggedness. At only a meter across, it is not likely to do major damage. In fact, it's most likely to end up in the ocean or the wilderness somewhere. Still, this is not something you should invite to visit your home. A very unlikely direct hit to any structure or object is sure to be locally destructive. The latest forecast from skywatcher Marco Langbroek, who has been tracking this object since at least 2019, has it coming back to Earth sometime between May 7 and May 13. That's significantly narrower than the initial three-week window Langbroek shared last week, and it will continue to narrow over the next several days. Langbroek and collaborators used modeling software to predict that the space remnant may impact the surface at a speed up to 150 miles per hour. It will likely appear as a bright and slow-moving fireball in the sky, but it will be very difficult to predict the corridor where it may be visible until the hours and minutes before re-entry. And the impact site is impossible to know in advance. To keep tabs on the inevitable demise of Kosmos 482, check sites like Heavens Above, which provide star charts and times the craft will be passing by for skilled backyard telescope spotters. also offers a nice tracking service. There are other sites out there as well that may integrate with telescopes – just use the NORAD ID for the object, which is 06073. And of course, continue to check back here for the latest updates as re-entry nears. Eyes on the sky!
