Satellite proliferation imperils astronomical observations, study finds


Satellite proliferation imperils astronomical observations, study finds <br> &nbsp;As thousands more satellites enter orbit, astronomers may face mounting difficulties in observing the cosmos, according to a study by the European Southern ​Observatory, which operates telescopes in northern Chile. The ESO study found that &zwnj;existing proposals to launch more than 1.7 million satellites into orbit, including some very bright ones, would substantially degrade astronomical observations. There currently are roughly 15,000 satellites in orbit. Bright ​streaks of light left by satellites can interfere with observatories and ​the quality of night-sky photography. &quot;Each of these satellites, when it crosses ⁠a telescope&#39;s field of view, leaves a bright line,&quot; said ESO astronomer ​Olivier Hainaut, author of the study published in the journal&nbsp;Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics, opens new tab. A single streak ​of light may be a minor nuisance, but when the numbers multiply there can be major problems. Each streak wipes away a small part of a telescope&#39;s view of space, ​Hainaut said. The global&nbsp;satellite industry&nbsp;has grown dramatically since 2019, driven by internet ​services such as Elon Musk&#39;s&nbsp;SpaceX&nbsp;Starlink and Amazon&#39;s&nbsp;Leo. The study&#39;s findings were based on simulations carried &zwnj;out ⁠at the Paranal Observatory in Chile&#39;s&nbsp;Atacama Desert. One model examined a constellation of up to a million satellites, with thousands of illuminated objects visible above the ESO&#39;s&nbsp;Very Large Telescope&nbsp;in the Atacama shortly after sunset. Hainaut said the impact would ​depend on both the ​number and the ⁠brightness of the satellites in orbit. &quot;If there are 100,000, that is a level of pain that is bearable,&quot; Hainaut ​said. If there are 300,000, some telescopes could be deprived of ​most ⁠of their data, Hainaut added. Despite the concerns, researchers said the benefits of satellite internet services should not be minimized, and that the challenge lies in balancing technological ⁠advances with ​scientific discovery. &quot;The problem is that this kind ​of research takes time, but the satellites are already being launched,&quot; Hainaut added. <br> <img src="https://tribune.com.pk/story/2624969/satellite-proliferation-imperils-astronomical-observations-study-finds" alt=" Satellite proliferation imperils astronomical observations, study finds" width="100%">

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