Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July. Get details Chevron right
Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July Fourth holiday travel hassles. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

73°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

73°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Weather News

How to see the new ‘Humanity Star’ satellite from your backyard

By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor

Published Feb 20, 2018 5:05 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:13 PM EDT

Copied

Stargazers have a new object to look for as a disco ball-shaped satellite shimmers in the night sky.

The aerospace manufacturer Rocket Lab performed a test launch of their Electron rocket from New Zealand on Jan. 21. The launch was a success and was able to deliver the payload of the Humanity Star into orbit around the Earth.

The rocket also successfully deployed three small commercial satellites into space for Plane Labs and Spire Global.

“Created by Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck, the Humanity Star is a geodesic sphere made from carbon fiber with 65 highly reflective panels,” according to the Humanity Star website.

Introducing The Humanity Star - a bright, blinking satellite now orbiting Earth, visible to the naked eye in the night sky. Launched on #StillTesting, The Humanity Star is designed to encourage everyone to look up and consider our place in the universe. Website coming soon pic.twitter.com/wvIEcXelVk

— Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) January 24, 2018

The new reflective satellite orbits the Earth about once every 90 minutes with the sole purpose of being visible for people all around the world to see.

“No matter where you are in the world, rich or in poverty, in conflict or at peace, everyone will be able to see the bright, blinking Humanity Star orbiting Earth in the night sky,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said.

How to view the Humanity Star

Those wanting to see the new satellite will need to do a little planning as it will not be visible every day.

The Humanity Star will be best seen when it passes overhead around dawn and dusk and should be visible with the naked eye.

It will also appear much differently than other man-made objects in the sky, such as the International Space Station.

Instead of being a moving point of light, the Humanity Star will appear to flicker as it tracks across the sky due to its angled panels. It is also estimated to appear dimmer than the International Space Station.

To find out when the Humanity Star will be visible from a particular city or neighborhood, people will need to go to TheHumanityStar.com, scroll down to the map and enter their location. This will show when the best opportunity is to view the satellite next.

For many areas in the United States, the satellite will be visible in early March, although the exact time and date will vary based on location.

RELATED:

GOES-S to launch this week joining GOES-16 in NOAA’s new generation of weather satellites
AccuWeather Astronomy Facebook page
Observatory spots Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster zooming through space
VIDEO: Celebrating 60 years of space exploration

People hoping to see the Humanity Star in the night sky should plan to look for it sooner rather than later as it will only be visible for a few months.

According to the satellite’s website, the Humanity Star will only orbit the Earth for around nine months before the pull of Earth's gravity causes it to re-enter and burn up in the atmosphere.

Until then, people around the globe will have the opportunity to see the satellite in the sky.

“My hope is that everyone looking up at the Humanity Star will look past it to the expanse of the universe, feel a connection to our place in it and think a little differently about their lives, actions and what is important,” Beck said.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Recreation

Boulders narrowly miss swimmers at popular Utah waterfall

Jun. 27, 2025
Weather Forecasts

July 4 Forecast: Thunderstorms to focus over Upper Midwest and Florida

Jul. 1, 2025
Weather News

Girl, 8, rescued after 7 hours in flooded sewer in China

Jun. 27, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Severe Weather

Severe storms, flash flooding to bring July 4 holiday travel hassles

6 hours ago

Weather News

Storm chaser stages whirlwind proposal with real tornado

8 hours ago

Weather News

Tropical trouble could stir near Southeast beaches around 4th of July

6 hours ago

Astronomy

July offers rare meteor shower combo, stunning views of the Milky Way

5 days ago

Weather News

Flights cancelled as Atlanta airport recovers from severe weather

2 days ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

10 hours ago

Recreation

Two people rescued after going overboard on Disney cruise ship

11 hours ago

Weather News

Fossil reveals ‘Last of Us’-type fungus likely lived with dinosaurs

6 days ago

Health

'Inverse' vaccines may hold key to challenge autoimmune diseases

1 day ago

Weather News

World’s most liveable city for 2025 revealed

1 week ago

AccuWeather Weather News How to see the new ‘Humanity Star’ satellite from your backyard
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...