'Eerie' flashing lights in the night sky spook readers from Sussex and beyond

Several more people have come forward saying they could see flashing lights in the sky following a story we published yesterday (March 19).
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

One reader suggested the straight line of flashing lights travelling from south to north on Saturday night could be SpaceX Starlink satellites, the internet project launched by South African billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The tale captured the imagination of our readers, who confessed to having seen the strange phenomenon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yesterday, Aimee Male said: "Having just returned from my back garden in the Witterings we have also seen a long of approximately 20 white lights all evenly spaced apart travelling in the same direction! Extremely eerie! No noise so cannot be aeroplanes!"

Dean Robinson from Woodingdean photographed three lights lined upDean Robinson from Woodingdean photographed three lights lined up
Dean Robinson from Woodingdean photographed three lights lined up

Dean Robinson from Woodingdean took a photo of the sight. Also speaking on Sunday, he said: "I was outside in the garden this evening, it was around 9.30pm when a light in the sky caught my eye, at first I saw two, but then realised they were part of a line travelling from south-west to north-east of white lights equal space apart, sometimes there were the odd two side by side and one or two going the opposite way.

"The display took 10 to 20 minutes to pass over. My daughter and her boyfriend also witnessed the display. We did do a search online and read about SpaceX satellites. We had a fantastic view overhead and took a couple of pictures and a video."

He added: "We were hoping for something more extraterrestrial!"

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The story also got people contacting the paper from further afield.

Jessica Myles said: "I saw these lights tonight over Manchester. There was around 30 of them and what’s odd is that the claim is they are satellites but these lights moved closer together at times moving next to each other then apart. How could a satellite change speed and move in different directions."

James Owen from Accrington, Lancashire, said: "I was just at my door looking to the sky and saw what I thought was the space station then more and more followed, I shouted my partner to come and observe them and we watched them for about five to10 minutes."

Minoo Carter from Stockport saw the phenomenon on Sunday at around 9.45pm.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "The direction we have seen them flying to, matches account of other people. I would like to add that they looked exactly like normal stars - in shape, size and brightness.

"Nothing seemingly unusual about their appearance. At first, I thought I'm being dizzy and my eyes are going funny. My husband then confirmed that they were actually moving at exact same speed and distance from each other - a perfect caravan of starry lights.

"Adding some more details, we noticed there was one that was out of this perfectly- distanced moving queue, rather in the middle, as if it was checking up on the order of this starry line. Also the last one in the line was lagging behind!

"In my excitement and adrenaline rush, I did not keep a count of how many we have seen passing by. I reckon I saw around 10."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Did you see the flashing lights? Send us your pictures and video to our email or Facebook page.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.

Related topics: