SatellitePollution.com is a resource for information and articles related to the impact satellites have on our relationship with space, especially astronomy.
“It’s going to become increasingly likely that the satellites will pass through the field of view and essentially contaminate your view of the Universe. And it’s going to be really difficult to remove that contamination away from our observations.”
~ Darren Baskill, an outreach officer of physics and astronomy at the University of Sussex.
Satellite megaconstellations cause bright streaks across astronomical images. Shown here, at least 19 streaks were attributed to Starlink satellites by astronomers with NOIRLab.Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/DECam DELVE Survey (CC BY 4.0)
Articles
Impacts of Large Satellite Constellations on Astronomy: Live Updates
By Kelsie Krafton, American Astronomical Society (AAS)
https://aas.org/posts/advocacy/2021/01/impacts-large-satellite-constellations-astronomy-live-updates
Light pollution from satellites 'poses threat' to astronomy
Mega-constellations could cause scientists to miss out on crucial discoveries, warn researchers
By Nicola Davis Science Correspondent, The Guardian Astronomy, Last modified on March 31, 2021
Satellite Light Pollution is Everywhere
Nowhere left on Earth to view the stars without light pollution from space junk and satellites. Plus, how to make indoors safe again and the US is urged to invest in solar-geoengineering studies.
By Flora Graham, Nature, March 30, 2021
Study finds nowhere on Earth is safe from satellite light pollution
There appears to be nowhere left on Earth where astronomers can view the stars without light pollution from space junk and satellites, according to a new analysis.
By Joshua Sokol, Science Magazine, March 28, 2021
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/03/study-finds-nowhere-earth-safe-satellite-light-pollution
Beyond Starlink: The Satellite Saga Continues
SpaceX has placed more than 1,000 Starlinks in orbit, and other companies are following suit. Here’s the latest on what’s being done to protect astronomy.
By: Monica Young, Sky & Telescope Magazine, Astronomy And Society - January 22, 2021
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/beyond-starlink-the-satellite-saga-continues/
SpaceX’s 1st Starlink launch of 2021 went off without a hitch Wednesday
SpaceX launched 60 more of its Starlink satellites on January 20, 2021. SpaceX ultimately intends to launch tens of thousands of these satellites, to provide global internet access. Here’s why astronomers are concerned.
By Lia Rovira and Deborah Byrd, Earth Sky, Human World, Space - January 20, 2021
https://earthsky.org/space/spacexs-1st-starlink-launch-of-2021
Astronomy Faces A Mega-Crisis As Satellite Mega-Constellations Loom
By Ethan Siegel, Forbes - January 19, 2021
SpaceX’s satellites are a huge headache for astronomers
SpaceX and Blue Origin are launching satellite mega constellations to provide internet across the world, but they could interfere with basic space science
By Lucie Green, Wired Magazine UK - January 3 2021
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/spacex-satellite-constellations
Darksats ain't dark enough: spacex starlink satellites continue to ruin it for astronomers
SpaceX's megaconstellation also sets a precedent for other companies to follow suit with their own, without considering the needs of the astronomy community, say experts.
By Staff, Tech2 News - September 14, 2020
Are Elon Musk's ‘megaconstellations’ a blight on the night sky?
Miniature satellites open up a world of technological possibility. But experts say they degrade the astronomical landscape
By Stuart Clark, The Guardian - September 12, 2020
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/12/stars-astronomy-spacex-satellite-elon-musk
How Satellite ‘Megaconstellations’ will Photobomb Astronomy Images
Most detailed report yet about the impact of giant satellite clusters says damage to observations is unavoidable — and offers mitigation strategies.
By Alexandra Witze, Nature - August 26, 2020
The Costly Collateral Damage from Elon Musk's Starlink Satellite Fleet
A colossal chess game of immense consequences is being fought in outer space, right now.
By Roland Lehoucq and François Graner, The Conversation - May 26, 2020
Why Elon Musk's Starlink satellites are upsetting stargazers -- again
Hundreds of satellites owned by Musk's company, SpaceX, have been launched as part of Starlink, a project to increase global internet coverage, but their presence is disrupting observations of the night sky.
By Jack Guy, CNN Business - April 21, 2020
The Night Sky Will Never Be the Same
Elon Musk’s plan for worldwide internet has sent bright artificial, lights streaking through the dark.
By Marina Koren, The Atlantic, Science - February 6, 2020
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/02/spacex-starlink-astronomy/606169/
SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation’ threat to astronomy
Latest launch includes ‘DarkSat’ prototype to reduce reflection from fleets of broadband Internet satellites.
By Alexandra Witze, Nature - January 9, 2020
Satellite Constellations: Astronomers Warn of Threat to View of Universe
Astronomers are warning that their view of the Universe could be under threat. From next week, a campaign to launch thousands of new satellites will begin in earnest, offering high-speed internet access from space.
By Rebecca Morelle, Science correspondent, BBC News - December 29, 2019
SpaceX launch highlights threat to astronomy from ‘megaconstellations’
Researchers fear that plans to send tens of thousands of communications satellites into orbit will disrupt scientific observations of the Universe.
By Alexandra Witze, Nature. - November 11, 2019
Light pollution from satellites will get worse. But how much?
Vast constellations of human-made objects in the sky could increase light pollution, interfere with radio signals, and contribute to the growing issue of space debris.
By Troy Farah, Astronomy Magazine - June 14, 2019
https://astronomy.com/news/2019/06/light-pollution-from-satellites-will-get-worse-but-how-much
Why astronomers are worried that SpaceX’s satellite network will pollute the night sky
They’re bright in the sky, and that’s a problem
By Loren Grush, The Verge, Vox Media - May 29, 2019
The quest to conquer Earth’s space junk problem
By Alexandra Witze, Nature - September 5, 2018
Space Oddities: We Need a Plan to Stop Polluting Space Before It’s Too Late
Opinion: Before we start colonizing other planets, we have to deal with all the junk we've hurtled into the atmosphere.
By Amy Webb, Wired Magazine - April 12, 2018
https://www.wired.com/story/we-need-a-plan-to-stop-polluting-space-before-its-too-late/