Starlink Satellites Are Increasingly Blocking Our View of the Universe (1 Viewer)

[Ignatius]

An interesting article from a photography website about how Mr. Musk's satellites are interfering with astronomy. But who wants to stand in the way of money-grubbing entrepreneurism bringing 'fasting [sic) internet' to the world?

 

[Conndomat]

An interesting article from a photography website about how Mr. Musk's satellites are interfering with astronomy. But who wants to stand in the way of money-grubbing entrepreneurism bringing 'fasting [sic) internet' to the world?

Correct, you just have to look through a telescope to see what's flying around.

The next point would be space junk, although the satellites are supposed to burn up in the earth's atmosphere, (although nobody knows what the long-term consequences will be because something always remains) the more satellites there are, the more collisions with space junk, which results in a rat's tail.

If this continues, humanity will lock itself in because space travel will become impossible.

Well, but short-term business seems to be more important, an unfortunate constant in people's actions.

Andreas

 

[Scott98]

Apparently there's also a serious risk from the metallic elements of the satellites polluting the atmosphere as they re-enter and burn up.

IMO at this point it's only a matter of time till we wipe ourselves out, till this civilization ends like the 27 others that preceded it. Crazed megalomaniac super-rich people are intent on mass suicide. The earth's biosphere that sustains all life is as thick as the skin on an apple. We're filling it with toxic chemicals as fast as we can.

 

[tenex]

Don't blame technology. There's some incredible stupidity, but one billion people could be doing (nearly?) all the same things without catastrophic consequences.

 

[rodneyAB]

Elons' sky trains mess up the desert sky. I don't blame his technology, it is just not as good as it should be. If he had better technologists, the sky trains could be non reflective, so I do blame Elon for messing with my sky.

 

[Thotmosis]

An interesting article from a photography website about how Mr. Musk's satellites are interfering with astronomy. But who wants to stand in the way of money-grubbing entrepreneurism bringing 'fasting [sic) internet' to the world?

First time i saw these fast moving objects i was thrilled because i thought i saw something special like UFO’s chasing each other but then i found out that it’s this satellites…. I remember thinking that even the sky gets polluted and opened a bottle of wine to calm myself. It was a very good wine from Toplou monastery!

 

[GrumpyBuzzard]

It's astonishing just how often I see space junk. Not hard-core astronomy guy but every time I do go out I'd say 50% of time I see a satellite intrude on my viewing.

 

[Pinewood]

@ignati @Thotmosis @Scott98

Hello,

This is a matter of exploiting the commons for the benefit of the business interests of the wealthiest man in the world. Essentially, he has deprived millions of the beauty of the night sky and has made the science of astronomy more difficult. Apparently, the heavens are a lawless place, beyond regulation for the common good, where one individual has taken away our birthright to enjoy nature.


Happy bird watching,
Arthur

 

[42za]

Musk's satellites are condoned by the US Government because they are a cheap source of surveillance technology , other Governments must be eating their hearts out.
So it is not just a matter of greed by Musk.
This is the only Planet we have , when will they ever learn.

 

[Yarkho]

The response of the professional astronomical community left a lot to be desired as well.

In my Institute alone, only about 10 out of 80+ scientists signed a petition against Starlinks.

 

[GrumpyBuzzard]

Musk's satellites are condoned by the US Government because they are a cheap source of surveillance technology , other Governments must be eating their hearts out.
So it is not just a matter of greed by Musk.
This is the only Planet we have , when will they ever learn.

Indeed

One of the coolest, yet sinister, patches used by a US government agency.

 

[Barred Wobbler]

October 2024, Starlink photo-bombing Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas.

It was hard enough seeing the comet without the clouds getting in the way, without this damned stream of junk sailing past.

 

[etudiant]

Afaik, Musk did have the Starlink satellites modified to be below magnitude 7 when deployed after objections from the astronomical world.
However, there was no UN style broader accord which would have codified these limits, so there is no rule to constrain other suppliers.
At this time, AST Mobile is partnering with Vodaphone and ATT to provide direct to device services using satellites with a very large antenna.
At 600+ square feet, those antennas will be quite conspicuous.

 

[Thotmosis]

Indeed

One of the coolest, yet sinister, patches used by a US government agency.

The Story Behind the Comically Villainous Octopus Logo of U.S. Spy Agency

A version of this story originally appeared on MuckRock.com.

www.atlasobscura.com