Astronomers warn planned satellite megaconstellations could blind ground telescopes
The newly opened Vera C. Rubin Observatory is already catching satellite streaks, and plans for orbital data centers with up to a million satellites threaten to worsen the problem.
What to know
- The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a $800 million U.S.-funded telescope, is already seeing satellite streaks corrupt its images just as it begins its flagship sky survey.
- Active satellites have grown from about 1,000 a decade ago to over 17,000 today, with projections of more than 100,000 within another decade.
- SpaceX, Google, Blue Origin and Cowboy Space are planning orbital data centers that could involve hundreds of thousands to over a million much larger satellites.
- No U.S. law currently regulates satellite brightness, leaving mitigation to voluntary cooperation between astronomers and satellite companies.
J. Anthony Tyson Chief scientist, Vera C. Rubin ObservatoryJonathan McDowell Astrophysicist, satellite launch catalogerHanno Rein Associate professor, University of TorontoSpaceX Satellite operator, Starlink/Starmind developerVera C. Rubin Observatory $800 million U.S.-funded telescope in Chile
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles
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Report highlights absence of U.S. rules on satellite brightness
The FCC approves satellite projects but has no regulations on how bright satellites can be; aside from a law banning space-based advertising, there are no laws governing the night sky's visual appearance.
“existential threat…”
— J. Anthony Tyson, Chief scientist, Vera C. Rubin Observatory · source -
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".. You’d see twice as many stars in the sky,” said Hanno Rein, an associate professor at the University of Toronto .. “But only half of them would be real.” The other half would actually be satellites transiting the sky." @wsj.com
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SpaceX and other firms engage Rubin scientists on brightness fixes
Tyson says he has discussed brightness mitigation with SpaceX staff for nearly a decade and another Rubin scientist reports 'positive dialogues' with about a half-dozen other satellite companies, though Starlink satellites remain brighter than IAU recommendations and no contact has been made with Chinese manufacturers.
“They've been very helpful, or they're trying to be.”
— Rubin Observatory scientist -
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Scientist models doubled light pollution from satellite swarms — University of Toronto's Hanno Rein, who has modeled light pollution from planned constellations, says stargazers would eventually see twice as many points of light in the sky, but half would be satellites rather than stars.
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Companies disclose plans for massive orbital data centers — SpaceX, Blue Origin, Google and Cowboy Space have all said they plan to build orbital data centers using much larger satellites than today's; SpaceX's filings describe a 'Starmind' project with over a million satellites, while Cowboy Space's satellites would be roughly the size of a football field.
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Astrophysicist documents explosive growth in satellite numbers — Jonathan McDowell, who has cataloged orbital rocket launches since 1957, says there are now more than 17,000 active satellites versus about 1,000 a decade ago, and projects over 100,000 within another decade.
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Rubin Observatory's satellite streak problem surfaces publicly — The newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory, meant to produce the most comprehensive survey of the universe, is finding fast-moving, light-reflecting satellites leaving white streaks across its photographs.
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first by Hindustan Times, 6d ago · also WSJ