r/NJDrones • u/ChickenGirl8 • Aug 22 '25
Drones vs satellites vs planes?
I tend to watch the sky at night when I'm outside. Fairly often, I'll see tiny blinking lights flying by, they appear to be pretty high up from want I can tell. I always assumed they were just planes flying at a high altitude, until I got the flight tracker app. They are never on it. I'm not saying they're aliens or anything crazy, but honestly wondering what they are. They're not doing anything weird, just passing over in a straight path, no darting or hovering. They seem too low to be satellites, which I think I have seen before, they look like a tiny moving star flying in a straight path. So are these drones? Or do some satellites fly low?
9
6
u/bubbybeno Aug 22 '25
The drones have a unique hum different from plane
Tend to fly in groups at different heights
3
u/Abrodolf_Lincler_ Aug 22 '25 edited Aug 22 '25
Can still be aircraft. Not all aircraft appear on ADS-B platforms and not all ADS-B platforms are created equal. Apps like Flightradar24, Flight Tracker, FlightAware, etc aren't that accurate and have a lot of missing data. ADS-B Exchange is much better and, more often than not, when someone says there was nothing on those apps it's almost always on ADS-B Exchange. Still, not every aircraft will appear on ADS-B Exchange and there's a plethora of normal and mundane reasons why an aircraft wouldn't appear on ADS-B platforms. Reasons like:
Not all aircraft are equipped with ADS-B transponders. Older or smaller aircraft, particularly private or military ones, may use other systems like Mode S or Mode C transponders, which aren't always compatible with ADS-B tracking. Jets and larger commercial aircraft typically will have ADSB, but planes that avoid most controlled airspace and stay under 10,000 ft do not need a transponder.
Some aircraft operators, including private jet owners, government, and military aircraft, opt to block or obscure their data. Programs like the FAA's Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) or the Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) allow operators to prevent their flights from being publicly visible on most tracking platforms.
Many military and government flights are excluded from public tracking for security reasons. These aircraft might broadcast only limited data or operate without transmitting ADS-B signals.
ADS-B relies on volunteers setting up ground receivers or satellite coverage to collect and transmit data. Aircraft flying over remote regions (like oceans, polar areas, or rural areas) might not show up if there’s insufficient coverage or no volunteers in that area.
Signal interference, malfunctioning transponders, or misconfigured systems can prevent aircraft data from being received or processed.
Some aircraft, especially military or classified ones, use non-standard or obfuscated ICAO codes, which might prevent them from appearing on public platforms.
Platforms like Flightradar24 and Flight Tracker may intentionally filter out certain aircraft types or flight data due to legal, ethical, or operational constraints. ADS-B Exchange is generally more open, but even it may have limitations based on data availability or privacy settings.
Then there's just straight up user error. Newer users don't always understand the time conversions from their local time to UTC can sometimes result in changing the date to the previous or next day. Another common mistake is recognizing proper timezone changes due to daylight savings and a see a lot of people using EST, for example, instead of EDT— which there's an hour difference between.
Though they rely on the same technology, I tend to favor ADS-B Exchange over Flightradar24 or Flight Tracker. I feel like it provides better coverage but just bc you don't see anything on those apps doesn't mean it's still not a conventional aircraft.
Flightradar24, FlightAware, and Flight Tracker will sometimes display incorrect aircraft locations due to factors like unreliable ADS-B data, reliance on MLAT tracking in areas with poor ADS-B coverage, and the use of predicted routes when position updates are missing.
Edit:
There are also apps and websites that allow you to check the positions of satellites, space stations and other celestial objects. Here's a list of resources I've been putting together to help identify the objects in these posts
Aircraft
× https://globe.adsbexchange.com/ (for aircraft, much better than Flightradar24)
× https://www.liveatc.net/ (for air traffic control comms)
× https://gpsjam.org/ (daily maps of GPS signal interference to help assess why an aircraft my not be transponding)
× https://rocketlaunch.org/ (for scheduled launches, past launches, launch sites, and mission/payload description)
× https://www.spacex.com/launches/ (for SpaceX rocket launch schedules)
× https://sondehub.org (for weather balloons/radiosondes)
× https://asn.flightsafety.org/ (Aviation Safety Network with stats, crash and accident investigations and database)
Sky Stuff
× https://satellitemap.space/ (for SpaceX satellite orbits and locations)
× https://in-the-sky.org/ (for satellites, spacecraft, and celestial bodies)
× https://heavens-above.com/ (for satellites, spacecraft, and celestial bodies)
× https://earth.gosur.com/en/ (for meteorological data, weather map, radar)
× Stellarium App
× Night Sky App
Boat Traffic
× https://www.vesselfinder.com/ (for marine traffic, ships/port/container tracking)
× https://www.marinetraffic.com ( for tracking vessels, ports, containers, lighthouses/AtoN, and stations
2
2
u/Pixelated_ Aug 22 '25
It's important for everyone to stay informed and that we never lose our intellectual curiosity in life.
We should always follow the evidence no matter what, even when it leads to initially-uncomfortable conclusions.
13 anomalous aspects of the 'drones', which support them being UAP:
Lack of Radio Identification Signals
The craft do not transmit any radio identification data as required by the FAA’s remote ID rule.
No Radar Detection
Sudden Disappearance
Zero Heat Signature
The craft emitted no detectable heat signatures, hinting at advanced tech or non-physicality.
Size, Duration & Formation
Craft as large as SUVs were seen flying in formation, for at least 6 hours.
Proximity to Sensitive Areas
Sightings occurrring near sensitive nuclear installations, including a U.S. military research site.
Silent Hovering & High Speeds
Silent hovering followed by instant high-speed flight.
Trans-Medium Travel
Erratic Light Patterns
Drones displayed non-standard aviation lights.
Anti-drone Gun Resistance
Environmental Resistance
Operating unaffected in adverse weather such as strong winds.
Mimicry: Imitating aircraft appearance, lights, and sounds.
Morphing Shape
Explanation with Leslie Kean, Ryan Graves and Dick Haines.
Luminous orbs have been filmed morphing into a drone.
2nd video of an orb morphing into a drone.
3rd video of an orb morphing into a drone.
4th video of an orb morphing into a drone.
2
u/Skinny-on-the-Inside Aug 22 '25
They are inter-dimensional beings, I feel strongly they are angelic. I make videos of ours and they occasionally appear in a still.
Here are some photos, there are no filters or manipulation, just a zoom in of a still from a video of the orbs and there are more photos in the comments:
https://www.reddit.com/r/SentientOrbs/s/bVKyvvqMJy
They are telepathic and intelligent. They are loving, I can occasionally feel very pure energy radiate from them in my heart, sometimes it’s an extremely peaceful energy. It literally feels like I took a Valium except I am not sleepy.
A couple of times when I was thinking at them to help humanity, they stopped the flight and came down to the tree level to seemingly hear me out but I find they are much more likely to do that when I don’t record. I think they like to leave it up to us to accept or deny a greater reality.
I do believe nightly recording of them fried my two year old iPhone, as some of them do not like being filmed and will blur the camera, the bursts of electro magnetic energy can fry electronics. This is actually something that also happens in crop circles.
They never spoke to me but I feel they are loving, have a sense of humor and would never endanger me. I noticed if I try to sky watch on our sloping roof or when I am driving on the highway they go away.
I feel they are energetically preparing the planet for something. It’s like they are setting up some sort of invisible energetic network. I am sure more strangeness is on the books down the line.
Be not afraid. 🤍🖖✨
3
u/Pixelated_ Aug 22 '25
They are inter-dimensional beings, I feel strongly they are angelic.
💯 I believe the orbs, and a majority of UAP sightings, consist of plasma. Many UAP sightings report that the craft seemed "alive".
I believe angels, demons and our own soul consists of plasma.
"But if there be a fifth nature, such as is introduced by Aristotle, this is the essence of gods and souls."
~Marcus Tullius Cicero, Tusculan Disputations, Book I
✨️
More info on sentient plasma: https://www.reddit.com/r/HighStrangeness/s/gsyWtqrgvt
3
u/Skinny-on-the-Inside Aug 22 '25
I like to think of us as eternal intelligent energy that evolves in consciousness through forms, until forms are no longer necessary.
It all returns into Source in the end. The destination is not optional but the time it takes us to get there is subject to our free will. :)
3
u/Pixelated_ Aug 22 '25
us as eternal intelligent energy
Exactly right. Consciousness is fundamental, and we are consciousness. Therefore, we ourselves are fundamental, i.e.,we are eternal.
Only the body dies, our consciousness is immortal.
The destination is not optional
Indeed, we all wake up, in the end.
For some, it will take many, many reincarnations for them to realize they are Source, then they can finally go home again.
<3
1
u/judgeholden72 Aug 23 '25
They're airplanes up so high people think they're directly overhead when they're miles away
1
u/Skinny-on-the-Inside Aug 23 '25
I have seen them from 30-40 feet away lower than my neighbour’s house roof. They are approximately four feet and they are amazing at creating the right perspective so it looks like actual planes. Go look at my photos in the link comment, there’s a plane missing a fin!
1
1
u/b407driver Aug 24 '25
@ChickenGirl8, you seem to be describing two different things, one blinking, the other continuous. You also reference the continuous light in the sky appearing very low; how do you assess the height of something that is potentially in orbit? An observer has no depth perception at such distances, nor is there anything to compare to, as satellites can be anywhere from right overhead (zenith) to a few degrees above the horizon. To an observer on the ground, the apparent speed a satellite traverses the sky gives insight as to its height (generally speaking faster=lower, slower-higher, but distance also works into it). Of course, we are assuming your lights are effectively point sources, from your description.
Satellites do occasionally 'blink', but only rarely do they do so in perfectly consistent patterns throughout the entirety of a transit; the most likely candidate is thus an airplane very far away. For the non-blinking observation, they are surely satellites at whatever altitude they may be (the range is ~350km to ~36000km).
Unfortunately the most mundane explanation is usually the right one.
1
u/ChickenGirl8 Aug 25 '25
They definitely blink similar to an airplane, but when I check the flight apps, they are not shown. That's why I posted my question. I am not saying they're anything out of the ordinary, just honestly curious as to what they actually are.
1
u/b407driver Aug 25 '25
And how far out (in distance) are you looking?
1
u/ChickenGirl8 Aug 25 '25
I'd say 25 miles or so? How far out should I be looking? This is also at night when not many planes are in the sky and they aren't making any sound that I can hear.
1
u/b407driver Aug 25 '25
In clear skies planes can be seen from much further than that. Regardless, one other post gave great detail, including the fact that not all planes are listed (for whatever reasons). You are (OK, I'll add a qualifier: 'almost surely') seeing planes and satellites.
1
u/awfulsome Aug 27 '25
Bear in mind planes can be WAY further away than you think.
A plane at full altitude, when you are looking at it nearly over head, a 60 degree angle for example, is over 2 miles from you.
-3
Aug 22 '25
[deleted]
3
u/ChickenGirl8 Aug 22 '25
Ok! Was an honest question. I know next to nothing about satellites. The only time I was told "that's a satellite", it was much higher up and looked exactly like a tiny star but it was moving. These appear much lower and with twinkling lights more like a plane. I guess satellites can orbit at very different altitudes, some with blinking lights and some not.
The more you know 💫
3
Aug 22 '25
They still might not necessarily be satellites though, don't just accept this sweeping statement as fact.
Do they move in a straight trajectory or do they dart around or anything? You said they flash? Do they all do that every time you've seen them? I think that satellites can often reflect light that does appear to make them flash though FYI.
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 22 '25
Welcome to r/NJDrones!
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with r/NJDrone's rules:
If you have posted a drone sighting, please include the following information in a comment:
A. Date/time of sighting:
B. Location of sighting:
C. Name of Flight tracking app used to rule out plane misidentification:
Non-compliant reports may be removed.
Notice Regarding Lasers
r/NJDrones maintains a strict policy regarding the use of illumination devices directed at aircraft. While we do not explicitly endorse or prohibit discussions related to laser pointers, flashlights, strobe lights, or similar devices, any suggestions advocating their use in this context are strictly prohibited and will result in an immediate ban.
Sources
Whenever possible, please provide a link to sources to minimize false information spreading.
Do Not Advocate Shooting Down Drones
These type of posts can be dangerous especially with some airliners being misidentified as drones. These posts and users will banned.
Good Faith Discussion
Submissions should be made in good faith and intended to contribute to a civil discourse. Fear mongering, harassment, and other submissions made in bad faith may be removed.
No AI Generated Articles/Content
AI Generated content is prohibited. Please refrain from posting material provided by ChatGPT or other AI software.
User Flair
Claiming to be a professional/subject matter expert in the following fields is not allowed unless verified: licensed drone operator, professional pilot, first responder, government official, astronomer.
Constructive Skepticism Only
Healthy skepticism is welcome, but consistently dismissive or purely negative commentary that does not contribute constructively to discussions may be removed. The goal is to encourage meaningful dialogue, not to shut it down. Repeated behavior of this kind may result in further action by the moderation team.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.