Elon Musk’s Space X Starlink satellites spotted over Sydney

Eagle-eyed Sydneysiders have noticed patterns of flickering lights high above the horizon around sunset and sunrise with many left wondering what they are.

Is it a bird, a plane or Elon Musk’s flying internet machine?

Eagle-eyed Sydneysiders have noticed patterns of flickering lights high above the horizon around sunset and sunrise. The curious development had some wondering whether it was planes, satellites, shooting stars or UFOs.

However, according to Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker there is a reasonable explanation for the unsettling display.

This image captured near Lethbridge shows about some of the Starlink satellites streaking through the night sky. Picture: Rodd Westwood

“This is the result of what we call the Space X Starlink. Starlink is this project to build essentially global wi-fi via satellites and this is one of those satellites providing beta testing for their internet service,” he told 2GB this morning.

“These low earth satellites are always zipping around that is why we see these lines.”

According to the Starlink website, their satellites are more than 60 times closer to the Earth than traditional satellites.

They remain close because this helps shorten the time it takes for the satellite to send data back to earth.

The project was announced in 2015 and to date, more than 1000 satellites have been put into orbit.

The project is being headed by on of the world’s richest people, American businessman Elon Musk.

A NASA TV video frame grab of the SpaceX Falcon 9 fourth Starlink constellation as it launches at Cape Canaveral, Florida on January 29, 2020. Picture: AFP

The SpaceX Deployment of 58 Starlink satellites.

The Starlink Kit contains the Starlink dish, wi-fi router, power supply, cables and mounting tripod. The hardware costs $A709, plus $100 shipping and handling, with the monthly internet service priced at $139.00 and currently has no data limit.

SpaceX has already received approval to set up Starlink Gateway ground stations in Australia. These stations are the linking factor between the satellites in space and internet data centres on Earth.

It is available in central Victoria and southern NSW but is expected to expand.

The company plans to operate a total of 24 ground stations across the country.