The star-like objects you see moving across the sky at night are most likely satellites. Satellites are man-made objects that orbit the Earth and can reflect sunlight, making them visible from the ground. There are various types of satellites, including communication satellites, weather satellites, and scientific research satellites, among others.
Some of the most commonly observed satellites are the ones in low Earth orbit (LEO). These satellites typically orbit at altitudes between a few hundred kilometers to a few thousand kilometers above the Earth's surface. Due to their relatively low altitude, they are visible as bright points of light moving steadily across the sky.
The number of satellites in orbit has been increasing in recent years, particularly with the advent of satellite constellations for global internet coverage. Companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon have launched large constellations of small satellites to provide global internet connectivity. These constellations can sometimes be seen as a series of closely spaced satellites moving in a line across the sky.
While many of the objects you see are likely satellites, there are also other celestial phenomena that can appear star-like and move across the sky. For example, the International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable satellite that orbits the Earth, and it is often visible to the naked eye as a bright moving object. Additionally, meteors or "shooting stars" can streak across the sky, but they typically appear as fast-moving and short-lived compared to satellites.
To determine whether an object is a satellite, you can use various tools and websites that track satellite positions and provide predictions for when and where they will be visible from your location.