‘UFO’ mystery solved
Lights in night sky from a satellite ‘train’
AN ECCENTRIC billionaire is responsible for now-identified flying objects spotted flashing through space over Far North Queensland – and there are more chances to witness the phenomenon this week.
Residents across Cairns, Townsville and Cape York reported seeing a strange line of lights moving slowly through the night sky on Friday and Saturday nights.
Theories about its origin ranged from a secret RAAF fighter jet operation to an extraterrestrial visit, but now Monash University School of Physics and Astronomy Associate Professor Michael Brown has unravelled the mystery.
The lights almost certainly came from US tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites launched into orbit late last week.
“There should be a few more opportunities to see them with the naked eye from Cairns in the coming days,” Prof Brown said.
“Cairns is lucky in that regard – it looks like there will be a few other passes.
“Then (the satellites) are going to disperse into their orbit, so they’re not going to show that really distinctive trail in a week or two’s time.
“But they should still be very noticeable.”
SpaceX initially launched the small satellites into orbit 440km above Earth, gradually ascending to a final 550km orbit.
There is more to come, with SpaceX planning up to six launches this year and even more in 2020 to reach a target of about 720 satellites in orbit for continuous internet coverage of the most populated areas of the planet.
Eventually the company hopes to have a 12,000-satellite mega-constellation providing internet access to people all over the globe.
That prospect has terrified astronomers, who worry a situation could arise where there are more satellites visible in the night sky than natural stars.
“Astronomers, myself included, are very worried about that light pollution,” Prof Brown said.
Early mornings are the best times to see the satellite train from Cairns, with pre-sunrise passes expected from about 5.59am on Thursday, 5.18am on Friday and 4.37am on Saturday, as well as into next week.