The effects that the huge constellations of satellites could have on astronomy are beginning to be highlighted, and astronomers are facing what this industrialization of space could mean for the future of their field.
The big picture: Companies like SpaceX and Amazon plan to launch thousands of satellites with an Internet connection to orbit in the coming years.
Where is it: Satellites can interrupt images taken by powerful telescopes on Earth. In particular, these ships may hinder scientists’ ability to find dangerous asteroids and distant objects of interest.
- Now scientists suggest that these satellites should be in relatively low orbits because this would keep them out of the field of view of large telescopes for much of the night.
- The concerns of the scientific community do not focus only on the visualization of satellites in the fields of view of telescopes. Radio astronomers could also face interference from these satellites as they transmit overnight.
The plot: Since 2018, SpaceX has launched more than 900 Starlink satellites as part of its constellation, and other companies are competing to catch up. This fast pace has not left much time for astronomers to defend their needs.
- “We need more ground rules up there, in a pretty‘ wild west ’environment, as more and more people are involved in the game,” Jeff Hall of the Lowell Observatory said during a panel meeting. the American Astronomical Society last week.
What to see: Astronomers work with space companies to ensure that any interference from their satellites is kept to a minimum.
- The National Science Foundation and the American Astronomical Society have published a joint report on the impact these satellites have on astronomy, and the International Astronomical Union also has a report on the subject.
- SpaceX works to reduce the visibility of its Starlink satellites in a number of ways, including coating some of them with material to reduce reflectivity.
- A study in December showed that these “DarkSats” are about half as reflective as previous Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX. The company is also experimenting with other methods that could further reduce its reflectivity.