this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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For the uneducated, what do these look like and can you see them in areas with light pollution?
Yes. They are technically reflected sunlight, so they are as bright as the sun, just very small. It makes sense you can see them during sunlight, since they are reflections of sunlight. You will typically only see them on the side of the sky opposite the sun, but the exact angle depends on the location and orientation of the satellite and the surface that is actually doing the reflection.
Generally speaking, they are dots that fade in somewhat gradually, moving at a consistent pace (typically slower than a shooting star, but faster than an airplane at cruising altitude) in a straight line direction for awhile at full brightness, then fading away.
If you look towards the horizon with the sun, a little before sunrise or after sunset, you'll probably be able to see flashes of them as they catch the light.