Last Thursday, on same day SpaceX launched 49 Starlink Internet relay satellites — joining more than 2,000 others in the region to date largest satellite network— The world’s largest organization of astronomers has launched a new organization to save the night sky from the brightness and radio frequency interference of satellites.
New Dark and Quiet Sky Protection Center from the interference of satellite constellations from International Astronomical Unionincludes professional astronomers from more than 90 countries, including the famous (or infamous) Pluto demoted in 2006. The Center will have two complexes: the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab — named for optical and infrared astronomy, not fiction — in Tucson, Arizona, and the Tree Array Observatory. Radio-focused square numbers in Manchester, England. The Center will coordinate research and advocacy related to reducing the effects of radio and light interference on scientific observations.
“Previously, the main source of interference was light pollution from the ground,” said Piero Benvenuti, an emeritus astronomer at the University of Padova, Italy and the center’s first director. Astronomers have long worried about sprawling cities with ubiquitous outdoor light blocking their view as they try to look up into the sky with their scopes, as do radio and communication signals, including cell phones and wireless networks, disrupt their radio observations.
Now, astronomers’ interests have changed and they are looking. “The optical and infrared and radio transmissions of satellite constellations are an existential threat to observations,” said Debra Elmegreen, IAU president and an astronomer at Vassar University. astronomy from the earth.
In just a few years, after numerous satellite launches, SpaceX’s Starlink has become the largest man-made constellation in the sky. It currently provides broadband internet access to more than 100,000 users, and much more. Within a few years, including other large constellations of satellites such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, China’s Starnet/GW and Canada’s Telesat, there could be as many as 100,000 satellites in orbit, each emitting a little light and send radio signals.
Benvenuti and his colleagues worry about how difficult space science will be if satellites end up stitching together astronomers’ images. The creation of the new IAU center signals that maintaining dark skies and addressing the effects of these constellations has now become an international priority. Over the past two years, many astronomers with leadership roles in the new center have hosted webinars detailing reports, including: SATCON 1 and 2 in the US and internationally Dark and quiet sky 1 and 2. Each report argues that more work needs to be done to address the effects of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit; opportunities “shrink and are closing” as the SATCON 2 report says.
The new center consists of four groups, or “centers”. One, called SatHub, will collect data from professional and amateur astronomers, including images of satellite trails, and encourage companies to share their data, to Astronomers can better minimize the influence of satellites on their work. Another will talk to industry experts, in the hope that companies will build their new satellites to be less reflective and avoid the radio frequencies used by telescopes. Another center will focus on making national and international policy recommendations. The final solution will coordinate community participation, working with indigenous communities, environmentalists, astrological tour groups, the astronomical community and others with an interest in limiting light pollution and preserving dark, quiet skies for everyone.
