The effects that large constellations of satellites can have on astronomy are beginning to focus, and astronomers are struggling with what this industrialization of space could mean for the future of their field.
The whole picture: Companies like SpaceX and Amazon plan to launch thousands of Internet radiation satellites in the coming year.
Where it says: Satellites can disrupt images taken by powerful telescopes on Earth. These spacecraft in particular can hamper scientists’ ability to find dangerous asteroids and distant objects.
- Scientists now suggest that these satellites should have relatively low orbits, as this will keep them out of sight for large telescopes most of the night.
- Concerns from the scientific community do not just focus on stripe satellites in telescope fields of view. Radio astronomers can also experience interference from these satellites if they broadcast overnight.
The plot: Since 2018, SpaceX has launched more than 900 Starlink satellites as part of its constellation, and other companies are rushing to catch up. The fast pace did not leave astronomers much time to plead for their needs.
- “We need more ground rules up there, in a fairly ‘Wild West’ environment, as more and more people come into play,” Jeff Hall, of the Lowell Observatory, told a panel at the American Astronomical last week Society meeting said.
What to look for: 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 released a joint report discussing the influence of satellites on astronomy, and the International Astronomical Union also has a report on the subject.
- SpaceX is working to reduce the visibility of their Starlink satellites in various ways, including covering some of them with a material to reduce the reflection.
- A December study showed that these “DarkSats” were about half as reflective as earlier Starlink satellites launched by SpaceX. The company is also experimenting with other methods that can further reduce their reflectivity.