https://sputnikglobe.com/20231002/new-5g-satellite-appears-unacceptably-bright-in-night-sky-astronomers-grumble-1113868294.html
New 5G Satellite Appears ‘Unacceptably Bright’ in Night Sky, Astronomers Grumble
New 5G Satellite Appears ‘Unacceptably Bright’ in Night Sky, Astronomers Grumble
Sputnik International
There are nearly 8,700 artificial satellites in Earth orbit, the vast majority of which have been launched in the last few years, including 5,000 Starlink internet satellites launched by SpaceX.
2023-10-02T21:23+0000
2023-10-02T21:23+0000
2023-10-02T21:20+0000
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A recently-launched communications satellite has become one of the brightest objects in the night sky for an Earth observer, which astronomers say emphasizes the need for better regulation of orbital platforms. However, it’s just one of a whole new planned constellation of satellites - a situation astronomers say is “unacceptable.”The satellite orbits at an altitude of between 316 miles and 327 miles (508 and 527 kilometers, respectively), which is higher than the International Space Station, as well as some other micro-satellite constellations that have attracted the ire of astronomers and stargazers alike. But BlueWalker 3’s problem isn’t its altitude, it’s the size and design of the spacecraft that’s causing the trouble.That giant aperture, called a phased-array antenna, is 689 square feet (64 square meters) wide, or about 26.3 feet (8 meters) long on each side. The panels are reflective, turning the satellite into a giant mirror bouncing sunlight down toward Earth.According to media reports, it’s the largest commercial antenna system ever deployed in low-Earth orbit.A group of irate astronomers have published a paper documenting the effect the satellite has on Earth, which was published on Monday in Nature.“The peak brightness of the satellite reached an apparent magnitude of 0.4,” the scientists noted. “This made the new satellite one of the brightest objects in the night sky.”In other words, the satellite appears brighter than the planet Saturn in the night sky, brighter even than Polaris, the North Star. By comparison, the current International Astronomical Union recommendation is for space objects not to be brighter than magnitude 7, which is close to the dimmest objects the human eye can detect unaided.
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astronomy; satellite; bluewalker 3; sky pollution
astronomy; satellite; bluewalker 3; sky pollution
New 5G Satellite Appears ‘Unacceptably Bright’ in Night Sky, Astronomers Grumble
There are nearly 8,700 artificial satellites in Earth orbit, the vast majority of which have been launched in the last few years, including 5,000 Starlink internet satellites launched by SpaceX. By 2030, scientists expect there to be 100,000 satellites in orbit, dramatically altering Earthlings’ view of the night sky.
A recently-launched communications satellite has become one of the brightest objects in the night sky for an Earth observer, which astronomers say emphasizes the need for better regulation of orbital platforms. However, it’s just one of a whole new planned constellation of satellites - a situation astronomers say is “unacceptable.”
In September 2022, AST SpaceMobile launched the BlueWalker 3 satellite, a prototype for what the Texas-based firm hopes will be a new constellation of 5G internet satellites.
The satellite orbits at an altitude of between 316 miles and 327 miles (508 and 527 kilometers, respectively), which is higher than the International Space Station, as well as some other micro-satellite constellations that have attracted the ire of astronomers and stargazers alike. But BlueWalker 3’s problem isn’t its altitude, it’s the size and design of the spacecraft that’s causing the trouble.
That giant aperture, called a phased-array antenna, is 689 square feet (64 square meters) wide, or about 26.3 feet (8 meters) long on each side. The panels are reflective, turning the satellite into a giant mirror bouncing sunlight down toward Earth.
According to media reports, it’s the largest commercial antenna system ever deployed in low-Earth orbit.
28 September 2023, 18:17 GMT
A group of irate astronomers have published a paper documenting the effect the satellite has on Earth, which was
published on Monday in Nature.
"Optical observations confirm that BW3 increases in brightness when BW3 is at a higher elevation above the horizon, and indicate that the range between the observer and BW3 is a primary contributor to the apparent/observed magnitude," they wrote. "The apparent brightness of BW3 also shows correlation with solar phase angle and appears brighter at high phase angles."
“The peak brightness of the satellite reached an apparent magnitude of 0.4,” the scientists noted. “This made the new satellite one of the brightest objects in the night sky.”
In other words, the satellite appears brighter than the planet Saturn in the night sky, brighter even than Polaris, the North Star. By comparison, the current International Astronomical Union
recommendation is for space objects not to be brighter than magnitude 7, which is close to the dimmest objects the human eye can detect unaided.
