SKY LIGHTS SpaceX launch – best time and how to see Elon Musk’s Starlink launch live tonight

SPACEX is hoping to launch more Starlink satellites into orbit tonight.

Avid stargazers will be able to watch live via a SpaceX YouTube link, that’s currently counting down to the launch.
6
Starlink satellites can be spotted without a telescope
6
Starlink satellites can be spotted without a telescopeCredit: Alamy Live News
The SpaceX website states: “SpaceX is targeting Wednesday June 3 at 9:25 p.m. EDT, 1:25 UTC on June 4, for its eighth launch of Starlink satellites.

“Falcon 9 will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

“A backup opportunity is available on Thursday, June 4 at 9:03 p.m. EDT, 1:03 UTC on June 5.”

For UK Starlink fans this means the launch could either happen at 02:25am on Thursday or 02:03am Friday if the backup option has to be taken taken.

Batches of the satellites are loaded into Falcon 9 rockets
6
Batches of the satellites are loaded into Falcon 9 rocketsCredit: Twitter
Nasa and SpaceX made history over the weekend for successfully launching two US astronauts into space in a Falcon 9 rocket.

This is the first time since 2011 that astronauts have blasted into space from US soil.

The next batch of Starlink satellites will also launch onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida in the US.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre said: “SpaceX is scheduled to launch the 8th mission of the constellation of networked satellites known as Starlink.

“The goal of Starlink is to create a network that will help provide internet services to those who are not yet connected, and to provide reliable and affordable internet across the globe.”

SpaceX and Nasa recently launched two US astronauts into space
6
SpaceX and Nasa recently launched two US astronauts into spaceCredit: AP:Associated Press
How to track Starlink satellites in real-time
Not sure where to look? Your phone’s got you covered.

There are a number of stargazing apps you can use to follow the path of Starlink probes.

On the Apple App Store, we’d recommend Night Sky, which is free and helps you find all kinds of celestial wonders.

For Android fans, Satellite Tracker should do the trick (it’s also available on iPhone).

Starlink probes appear in stargazing apps like Night Sky
6
Starlink probes appear in stargazing apps like Night SkyCredit: Night Sky
Simply head outside at one of the scheduled Starlink times above, load up one of the apps and you should be able to spot one.

Alternatively, you can visit the Find Starlink website (or the “Find Starlink Satellites” app) and enter your location.

What is Starlink?
Starlink is a controversial scheme that aims to beam Wi-Fi to people from space using a “mega constellation” of thousands of satellites.

“With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet … Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable,” the official website explains.

The project is the brainchild of tech billionaire Elon Musk, whose California-based rocket firm SpaceX builds and operates the satellites.

More than 420 have been launched so far, with the network eventually set to reach 12,000, rising to as many as 42,000 in the future.

SpaceX sends its satellites up in batches of 60 at a time. Each group is launched atop an unmanned Falcon 9 rocket built by SpaceX.

The solar-powered tech typically orbits around 340 miles above Earth.

How the probes will affect the night sky is causing concern as they sit in a low orbit, so appear brighter than stars and planets.