Satellites are causing visual pollution for astronomers and astro-photographers

[Tronhard]

There has been a trend of late to launch many more, smaller satellites into orbit as new vehicles come on line to reduce the cost of sending them into space. The unfortunate result of this is the reflection caused as they transit the sky, their reflections of sunlight causing problems for astronomers.

See this article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/s...-iau-1.5467540

I am sure we have quite a few astro-photographers here, I am curious to learn their comments...

[pschlute]

I have never got into astro-photography, perhaps because I dislike the cold.

Now I have a proper excuse !

[Astro]

Hi Trev, I picked up on the same information last autumn, and the total network of satellites will certainly make life difficult for the 'big' telescopes.

I live in a severely light polluted area (West Midlands UK), and near an airport. So far my biggest issue is aircraft and their navigation lights.

So far I've not picked any 'trails' up, but viewing opportunities this winter have been less than optimum because of our appalling weather... more storms and flooding again this week!

I think I have a strategy for dealing with light trails on single captures, but need a good night to test it. Basically it is the same technique that I have used on a few occasions to remove power/telegraph lines. My capture strategy is usually to take multiple short exposures because the light pollutionn becomes unmanageable very quickly as exposure time increases. Since I then stack the accumulated images, meteor trails, and possibly these new satellite trails should be eliminated, or at least mitigated.

Right now though I would appreciate even an hour of clear sky!!!

[AlwaysOnAuto]

As one who has helped contribute to the light pollution in space, what can I say?
I didn't pay for them, I only helped build them.

[Tronhard]

As one who has helped contribute to the light pollution in space, what can I say?
I didn't pay for them, I only helped build them.

I think the game changer here is the proliferation of smaller, cheaper satellites that are launched en masse - such as the ones shown in the link. NZ is certainly part of that with our own rocket program specializing in launching smaller satellite systems in groups. It would seem space is become more and more crowded. Maybe they need to remove a bunch of obsolete ones. I was amazed at how many satellites and bits of debris are being monitored in space.