Starlink Train over Stonehaven

Sighting details

Date: 14th August 2025

Time: 22:35

Location: Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Sighting Account

The witness was walking their dog near their home in a rural area when the sighting occurred. The sky conditions were dark with a slight haze, though stars were still visible. Their property is situated within sight of the coast and during the return leg of their walk facing towards the sea they looked upwards to the left and observed a trail of lights high in the sky.

The witness described the phenomenon as resembling a train seen from a distance, moving purposefully and at speed through the night sky. The trail appeared significantly long, made up of distinct lights rather than a single continuous beam, and moved in a silent, steady fashion.

The lights tracked over the sea in an easterly (not due east) direction before disappearing from view. The entire observation lasted an estimated 40 seconds. The witness attempted to capture the event on their phone but was too late in preparing the device.

Astronomical

Using Stellarium, a free sky-mapping program that allows accurate reconstruction of the positions of stars, planets, and satellites for any chosen date, time, and location, I was able to verify the witness account. For the reported date, time, and location of the sighting, Stellarium confirms that Starlink satellites were visible in this part of the night sky.

One of the most common sources of UFO misidentifications in recent years is the Starlink satellite network operated by SpaceX. These satellites are often launched in groups and travel in a straight line or "train" formation. To the observer they can appear as a series of bright stars or orbs moving steadily across the sky and sometimes seeming to emerge from nowhere. Their brightness can vary under certain conditions and they may seem unusually bright or appear to pulse as they move. Starlink satellites follow predictable low Earth orbits and travel at a constant speed but their appearance when grouped together often surprises witnesses unfamiliar with satellite movements. There are around 7,600 Starlink Satellites in orbit.

Resources

Starlink Tracker www.findstarlink.com

Astronomy & Observing News www.skyandtelescope.org

LEO Satellites Information https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

Night Sky Viewer www.stellarium.org

Weather

Atmospheric conditions can significantly influence how objects appear in the night sky. In hazy conditions objects such as satellites or stars are subject to light scattering, which can make them appear larger, blurred or even surrounded by a halo. These effects can amplify their brightness and in the case of a train of Starlink satellites, may cause the lights to appear as a continuous glowing trail rather than distinct points. Haze can also create colour shifts or distortions. These atmospheric effects can make the satellites appear far more unusual than they would under clear sky conditions.

Conclusion

Although several notable astronomical events were occurring on the evening of the sighting (including the Southern Aquariids, Northern Aquariids, Antihelion, and Capricornids meteor showers), the movement, appearance, and description provided by the witness most closely match a sighting of Starlink satellites. Using Stellarium and other satellite tracking tools it can be confirmed that multiple Starlink satellites were visible in that area of the sky at the exact time and moving in their characteristic train-like formation. It is also important to consider the effect of hazy atmospheric conditions which can cause bright objects such as satellites to appear larger, distorted or more unusual. This visual distortion can easily enhance the UFO-like impression for a witness increasing the likelihood of misinterpretation as unidentified aerial phenomena.

James Bowen

BUFORA AI