>I keep spotting star like lights moving through the sky.
you are probably seeing things in orbit, check here
https://www.heavens-above.com/
for a good list of what is visible and when
the bits
>paths are sporadic, they change in brightness, and many of them slowly burn out.
match up with satellites going in and out of the earth's shadow.
the satellites have different amounts of reflective surfaces and some tumble so it makes the reflected light vary.
check out the website, they explain it much better than I can