A sequence of bright lights moving across Colorado Tuesday evening was reported by multiple observers and identified by trackers as a Starlink satellite train. Tracking resources including Find Starlink and a page run by Google engineer James Darpinian confirmed Starlink satellites passed over the area. Similar displays were reported on Nov. 18 last year and during October 2023. Trackers say the constellation could be visible over Denver again in the coming nights, with visibility depending on timing and local conditions.
Mysterious Line of Lights Over Colorado Identified as Starlink Satellite Train
A sequence of bright lights moving across Colorado Tuesday evening was reported by multiple observers and identified by trackers as a Starlink satellite train. Tracking resources including Find Starlink and a page run by Google engineer James Darpinian confirmed Starlink satellites passed over the area. Similar displays were reported on Nov. 18 last year and during October 2023. Trackers say the constellation could be visible over Denver again in the coming nights, with visibility depending on timing and local conditions.
03:43 AM, 11/20/2025Technology
Residents across parts of Colorado reported a striking line of white lights moving across the sky Tuesday evening. Viewers submitted photos showing a row of bright points that appeared to move before fading — one sighting was reported in the western sky moving northeast, while another was photographed over south Parker at about 5:30 p.m.
While visually surprising, the formation matches the familiar appearance of a "satellite train." The lights were identified as part of SpaceX's Starlink constellation, a network of internet-beaming satellites first launched in 2019.
How trackers confirmed the sighting
Public tracking services reported Starlink passes over Colorado the same night. Find Starlink listed visible passes in the area, and a page maintained by James Darpinian, a Google graphics and computer vision engineer, showed satellites along the observed trajectory that match the photos submitted by viewers.
Why they look like a line of lights
New or recently adjusted Starlink satellites often travel in tight formation, reflecting sunlight and appearing as a bright, evenly spaced line from the ground. Visibility depends on timing, altitude, and lighting conditions — especially shortly after sunset or before sunrise when satellites catch sunlight while the observer is in twilight.
This is not Colorado's first encounter with Starlink trains. Similar sightings were reported on Nov. 18 last year across Boulder, Elizabeth and other metro areas, and a repeated line of lights was seen in October 2023 for several days. Trackers indicate the constellation may be visible over Denver again in the coming nights, though whether it will be visible from any given location depends on the exact timing and local viewing conditions.
For those curious to observe future passes, public tools such as Find Starlink and satellite-tracking pages maintained by independent engineers offer schedules and viewing guidance. Many viewers provided their photos to local media, and tracking data helped explain the phenomenon rather than leaving it unexplained.