Satellites Threaten Cosmic Views

Astronomers are raising concerns about the increasing number of satellites in orbit, which could severely impede cosmic observations. A study from the European Southern Observatory indicates that proposals for over 1.7 million new satellites, including some designed to be very bright, threaten to substantially degrade astronomical data.

These satellites leave bright light streaks across telescope fields of view, a minor issue individually but problematic when numbers multiply. Existing proposals suggest constellations of up to a million satellites, potentially overwhelming observatories like the Very Large Telescope in Chile's Atacama Desert shortly after sunset. While thousands of satellites might be tolerable, hundreds of thousands could deprive some telescopes of most of their data.

The global satellite industry has seen dramatic growth since 2019, driven by internet services. Researchers acknowledge the benefits of these services but emphasize the urgency of balancing technological advancement with scientific discovery, noting that satellites are being launched while research into mitigation strategies is still in its early stages.