SpaceX Starlink satellite train snapped flying over New Zealand

A new batch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites has been spotted travelling in the skies over New Zealand.

Fifty-seven of the satellites, intended to provide a satellite-based internet system, were released into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket on Friday. There are now 597 of them - SpaceX hoping to eventually have more than 40,000. 

When a batch is first released, the satellites are close together and can be seen moving across the sky in a train.

"Gradually they will disperse to their final positions," said Noel Munford, a photographer in Palmerston North who sent Newshub the snap below.

Starlink satellites over Palmerston North.
Starlink satellites over Palmerston North. Photo credit: Noel Munford

"But for the next few days, watching them pass above is an impressive sight."

The photo was taken just after 7pm as the train moved northeast across New Zealand.

Another photo was taken by Christchurch astro-photographer Vishal D Makwana from the Port Hills.

Starlink satellites over Christchurch.
Starlink satellites over Christchurch. Photo credit: Vishal D Makwana

Not everyone likes the sight, however. When the first satellites went up in 2019, astronomers were outraged.

"The potential tragedy of a mega-constellation like Starlink is that for the rest of humanity it changes how the night sky looks," Ronald Drimmel, from the Turin Astrophysical Observatory in Italy, told Forbes.

In January Otago Museum director and astronomer Ian Griffin said Starlink would make stunning images of the night sky "a thing of the past". 

"Little did I know back in 2017 that mega-constellations of satellites were coming," he said, posting a photo of a green and purple sky.

"This pic is going to be saved for my grandkids. The time we could genuinely celebrate our home planet’s amazing, dynamic night sky before the billionaires polluted it with their satellites."

SpaceX boss Elon Musk says it's worth it for the benefits satellite internet will bring, but his company has been working to minimise the visual impact in future launches.

"We need to move telescopes to orbit anyway. Atmospheric attenuation is terrible."