Starlink satellites visible over Sonoma County

Local residents will have several opportunities over the next few days to see one of the latest batches of Starlink satellites launched into low Earth orbit Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Fla.

A product of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which owns Starlink Services, the new chain of 23 communications satellites is expected to be visibly bright in the sky for 4-minute stretches just after 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week.

The billionaire entrepreneur-turned-adviser to President-Elect Donald Trump, announced the launch on his X social media platform with video from the SpaceX rocket used to take the Starlink satellites into space.

A separate launch occurred Wednesday at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc, contributing to what some say are more than 6,760 satellites currently in the Starlink constellation ― expanding global access to high-speed internet service.

When first deployed, Starlink satellites look like a train of closely connected lights in a straight line that gradually spread apart as they are ready to be sent to their individual positions.

They are tracked by numerous astronomers and websites, including findstarlink.com. It says viewers in Santa Rosa and surrounding areas should be able to see the new chain looking west to north beginning about 6:02 p.m. Monday and 6:06 p.m. Tuesday, and looking northwest to north starting around 6:09 p.m. Wednesday and 6:13 p.m. Thursday.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan (she/her) at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @MaryCallahanB.