A new threat looms over the world’s most advanced telescope, Vera C. Rubin Observatory, located on a Chilean mountain. The growing number of communications satellites in orbit poses a significant challenge to astronomers’ work. With nearly 7,500 Starlink satellites currently active and an expected total of 40,000 by the end of the next few years, these satellites can cause streaks on telescope images, contaminating valuable scientific data.
The Rubin Observatory’s survey telescope has a wide-viewing eye, making it particularly vulnerable to satellite interference. According to astronomers, this could result in missed discoveries and reduced ability to observe certain phenomena, such as supernovae and dark matter studies.
To mitigate the issue, SpaceX has modified its satellite designs to reduce reflectivity and bounce sunlight back into space instead of towards Earth. However, other companies may not follow suit, or share information about their satellites’ orbits, limiting astronomers’ ability to avoid interference.
The growing number of satellites poses an “existential threat” to astronomy, warns Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina. Tony Tyson, Rubin’s chief scientist, notes that while global internet access is crucial, it comes at a cost to scientific research. As China enters the satellite market with little transparency, concerns grow about the future of astronomical research and the balance between technological advancements and scientific progress.
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz8351