ESO Study Warns of Satellite Overload Threatening Astronomy
A new European Southern Observatory study found that proposed satellite launches could have devastating consequences for astronomy, recommending no more than 100,000 faint satellites orbit Earth to safeguard night sky observations. This comes as satellite numbers have rapidly increased, with over 14,000 now in orbit, dominated by SpaceX's Starlink.
Key points
- The European Southern Observatory (ESO) released a study warning of the devastating consequences of proposed satellite launches on astronomy.
- The study recommends no more than 100,000 faint satellites orbit Earth to safeguard night sky observations.
- Current satellite proposals, including those from SpaceX's Starlink, are 'beyond the limit' of what astronomy can withstand, according to ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut.
- Satellite numbers have rapidly increased, with over 14,000 now in orbit, and proposals have escalated in number and potential impact.
- Companies like SpaceX have taken measures to make their satellites less bright, but current proposals are still a concern for astronomers.
A new study by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has sounded the alarm on the growing threat of satellite overload to astronomy. The study, which has been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, warns that proposed satellite launches could have devastating consequences for the field.
The ESO study found that current proposals to launch over 1.7 million satellites into orbit, including extremely bright ones, would make the night sky too bright for modern telescopes to observe. In contrast, the study recommends that no more than 100,000 faint satellites should orbit Earth to safeguard night sky observations.
The rapid increase in satellite numbers has been driven by companies like SpaceX, which has launched over 1,500 of its Starlink satellites into orbit since 2019. While companies have taken measures to make their satellites less bright, current proposals are still a concern for astronomers.
According to ESO astronomer Olivier Hainaut, who has been involved in developing recommendations to mitigate the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy, 'it's getting worse.' He stresses that current satellite proposals are 'beyond the limit' of what astronomy can withstand.
The study marks a significant warning for the astronomical community, which relies on the ability to observe the night sky with modern telescopes. As satellite numbers continue to grow, it remains to be seen how the industry will respond to the ESO's recommendations.
Sources
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