Why are satellite trains often visible only shortly after sunset or before sunrise?
Answer
The ground must be dark while the high-altitude satellites are still illuminated by the Sun.
The visibility window requires a geometric trick where the sky on the ground is dark enough for the lights to stand out, but the satellites remain high enough to catch and reflect sunlight, which has already set or not yet risen locally.
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Starlink satellites, the string of lights in the night sky. - YouTube
What was the string of lights in the sky over the Youngstown area ...
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