Over the past few hours, people have been confused by a strange “line of lights” in the skies over the Canary Islands, with photos flooding social media asking what they are. Many want them to be more than the reality, as they are only the Starlink satellite train, part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX program.
The Starlink satellite system is designed to provide high-speed internet access even to the most remote regions of the planet. Starlink satellites are launched in batches, with each group containing between 15 and 56 satellites.
As of now, there are nearly 6,000 Starlink satellites orbiting the Earth, with the ultimate goal of creating a constellation of 12,000. In the future, this network could expand to as many as 42,000 satellites.
What people witnessed last night (Saturday) was the recently launched "train" of satellites, all travelling at the same altitude and speed, creating a mesmerising string of lights gliding across the night sky.
In the days following a launch, these satellites are easily visible to the naked eye and often cause confusion, frequently being mistaken for UFOs due to their unusual appearance.
This event is just one of many occasions when Starlink satellites have captivated viewers around the world, sparking fascination and interest in the growing role of space technology in everyday life.
