REGIONAL — Residents across the eastern Iron Range looked up Saturday night to see an unusual green streak blazing across the sky, prompting dozens to wonder if they’d witnessed a meteor or something more mysterious.
The American Meteor Society received 136 reports of the incident from observers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and as far north as Ontario and Manitoba. After reviewing the sightings, the organization determined the bright object was most likely Starlink satellite #3322 burning up as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
The satellite’s orbital decay had been projected to bring it back to Earth in December, and its last tracked position came just before the widely observed event on Saturday evening.
While the spectacle may seem unusual, such events are becoming increasingly common. Starlink satellites currently reenter Earth’s atmosphere one to two times daily, with that number expected to increase to about five per day as more satellites reach the end of their operational lives.
Starlink satellites, operated by SpaceX, typically remain in low Earth orbit for about five years before they are deliberately deorbited. The satellites use their propulsion systems to guide themselves into a controlled reentry burn, where they disintegrate in Earth’s atmosphere rather than becoming space debris.
SpaceX currently operates approximately 7,000 to 8,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, making it the world’s largest satellite fleet. The satellites provide internet service to remote and rural areas around the globe.
While most satellite reentries occur over oceans or unpopulated areas and go unnoticed, those visible over populated regions can create spectacular displays. The events are distinguishable from actual meteors by their slower speed across the sky and the way they break into multiple glowing fragments, whereas meteors typically streak past in just seconds.
The increasing frequency of satellite reentries has raised concerns among some astronomers and environmental scientists about the long-term atmospheric effects. As satellites burn up during reentry, they release aluminum oxide and other materials into the upper atmosphere, though the full environmental impact remains under study.
For now, northern Minnesota residents who witnessed Saturday’s display got a front-row seat to what’s becoming a more regular feature of the night sky in the satellite age.