search
astronomy
Trends
- 1Astronomers warn planned 50,000 orbital mirrors would ruin the night sky●"'They're saying we want to launch 50,000 mirrors by 2035,' Benvenuti said. 'That would be catastrophic for astronomy, t
Astronomers are reacting to plans by California startup Reflect Orbital, which is seeking US regulatory approval to launch tens of thousands of sun-reflecting satellites that would beam sunlight to ground locations. A company figure of 50,000 mirrors in orbit by 2035 has drawn sharp warnings from researchers, with one astronomer calling the project catastrophic for astronomy, since bright reflectors would wash out observatories' views and alter the night sky.
- 2Environmental groups petition FCC to halt space sunlight project●"Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse appr
Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency ignored the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy when it cleared the venture, and are pressing regulators to reconsider the decision.
- 3AST SpaceMobile satellites measured far brighter than limits●"Our measurements reveal an average brightness seven times brighter than mitigation targets cited in FCC filings and pea
New measurements of AST SpaceMobile satellites show an average brightness seven times higher than the mitigation targets cited in the company's FCC filings, with peak brightness over 200 times above the International Astronomical Union's recommended threshold of magnitude 7. Astronomers say the findings raise fresh concerns about the impact of large satellite constellations on night-sky observations, as the company prepares further deployments.
- 4Astronomer turns sinking Starlink satellites into planetary barometer●Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites to use them as a 'planetary barometer', reading how satellite drag responds to changes in the upper atmosphere. The proposal is drawing attention as an unexpected scientific repurposing of Elon Musk's Starlink constellation, which already concerns researchers because of its growing interference with ground-based astronomy.
- 5Gujarat governor urges young researchers to study science logically●Examine physics, maths, astronomy through logical lens: Gujarat governor to young researchers
The Governor of Gujarat called on young researchers to examine physics, mathematics and astronomy through a logical lens. The remarks, reported by ThePrint, frame scientific study as grounded in reasoning and critical thinking. Little further detail about the event or the audience is available in the reporting.