Starlink satellites passing over NZ tonight

The 'train' of satelittes should be viewing from 8.32pm on Saturday October 8 as it passes over New Zealand. Photo: Supplied.

Those who missed seeing the latest group of 52 SpaceX Starlink satellites pass overhead on Thursday and Friday nights may have another opportunity this evening.

Tauranga Astronomical Society president David Greig says weather permitting, the internet satellite 'train' should be viewable from 8.32pm on Saturday October 8 as it passes over New Zealand.

"It will be passing high across the upper South Island / Kaikoura from North West to South East.
"As seen from the North Island and top of the South Island, Starlink G4-29 will rise in the North West at 8:32pm and will pass highest across the south western sky reaching maximum altitude at 8:35pm," says Dave.
"As seen from Tauranga, Starlink will reach a maximum altitude of 24 degrees, passing just above the Southern Cross."
Dave says the satellite train will disappear into the Earth's shadow in the South-East at 8:38pm.
For those watching from Christchurch and the lower South Island, Starlink will rise in the North West at around 8:32pm and will pass highest across the north eastern sky at 8:35pm.
"The satellite train will disappear into the Earth's shadow in the South-East at 8:38pm."
The Thursday and Friday night passes were quite spectacular as seen from many locations around New Zealand and Dave says tonight's pass will be best for people in Canterbury, upper South Island and lower North Island.

"There may be another opportunity for observers in the lower South Island to Canterbury on Sunday night from 8:44pm," says Dave.

The Tauranga Astronomical Society have posted the charts and data below on their Facebook page. Dave says they are from the Heavens-Above website with the viewing location set to Tauranga.

SpaceX lofted 52 of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit on October 5, just hours after launching astronauts toward the International Space Station for NASA.

The Starlink satellites lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base Wednesday at 7.10 p.m. EDT (2310 GMT; 4.10 p.m. local California time).

The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth and made a pinpoint landing 8.5 minutes after launch on the SpaceX droneship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

While the Falcon 9 first stage came in for its landing, the upper stage continued powering its way to orbit. The 52 Starlink satellites were deployed as planned about 62 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX confirmed via Twitter.

Starlink is SpaceX's ever-growing megaconstellation that beams internet service to customers around the world. SpaceX has already lofted more than 3,400 Starlink satellites to date and plans to orbit many more: The company has approval to launch 12,000 of the spacecraft and has applied for permission for up to 30,000 on top of that.

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