Starlink Tracker

What the Starlink orbit map can show

The entry button selects the Starlink category in PocketWorld's Space view. It separates those records from stations, navigation spacecraft and debris. Search for an ID or a name in the catalog, select an available object and compare its element epoch with the source snapshot above. Switching categories changes what the map displays; it does not change which records the source supplied.

A dot or spacecraft symbol represents an orbit estimate. An orbital path is calculated from the available elements, not a photographed track across the sky. A record can remain in the table while its marker is omitted because the elements are too old, propagation fails or the current device limits how much is drawn.

Reading the map from the United States or Canada

Keep a distinction between a globe view and an observing plan. Centering North America helps you explore the geometry of an orbit, but it does not establish whether a satellite is above your local horizon, illuminated or bright enough to see. A modelled position near your city on the globe is not a local sighting alert.

Compare dates in UTC before comparing them with a local clock. The United States and Canada span multiple time zones, and an evening date at your location can differ from the UTC date shown with an element set. For an observing attempt, also check current cloud conditions and a specialist local pass forecast. SpaceX's satellite-brightness explanation describes how illumination and viewing geometry affect reflected sunlight; seeing a train or an individual satellite is never guaranteed by this map.

If you want an observer-specific forecast for the International Space Station instead, the New York ISS guide and Toronto ISS guide use labelled reference observers. Those are forecasts for a different spacecraft and must not be read as Starlink predictions.

Internet availability is a different map

A spacecraft passing over a country does not confirm that a particular address can order a service plan or achieve a particular speed. This orbit viewer does not have address capacity, subscription or terminal-obstruction information. Check the official Starlink availability map and its capacity explanation for that decision. PocketWorld does not sell or activate Starlink service.

What the source dates and counts mean

The retrieval time records when PocketWorld retained a snapshot. The element epoch is the reference time for an individual orbital model. A recent retrieval can still contain older elements, while a future reference date needs to be read as a source date rather than a fresh observation. The table labels those cases.

The source can provide a partial catalog, and operational changes do not necessarily appear in every available element set at the same time. CelesTrak's orbital-data documentation explains GP elements and supported data formats. Count the supplied records separately from the complete constellation or the operator's active fleet.

Looking for pictures of the ground?

Starlink records describe communications spacecraft, not Earth photographs. Choose the United States satellite imagery guide or Canada satellite imagery guide for dated Earth imagery and background mosaics. Use the general satellite map to explore other orbital categories without confusing them with ground images.