"Because of Musk"... Why Astronomers Worldwide Are Angry?[Reading Science]

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "Elon Musk, because of you, astronomers around the world are about to lose their jobs." As the number of satellites in Earth's orbit rapidly increases, astronomers are finding it increasingly difficult to observe celestial bodies, raising calls for countermeasures. Amid this, attention is focused on the upcoming United Nations (UN) meeting on the 1st of next month, where regulations addressing the surge in satellite numbers are expected to be discussed.

According to the international academic journal 'Nature' on the 27th, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is building an information-providing website that allows astronomers, satellite operators, and intelligence agencies to predict the positions of satellites launched by Musk's SpaceX and others when observing celestial bodies or satellites near Earth, to aid their observations. Previously, the IAU established an organization last year called the Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPDQSSCI) to systematically address the issue of 'satellite pollution.'

The reason astronomers are taking such rare collective action is due to the serious problem of observation interference caused by the recent rapid increase in satellites. According to a paper by a research team from the University of Regina in Canada, during summer nights near 50 degrees north and 50 degrees south latitude?times when astronomers in Europe and Canada conduct the most observations?they experience the most interference. If SpaceX launches the 65,000 Starlink satellites as approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), satellites will sparkle throughout the summer nights in those regions, making astronomical observations difficult.

In particular, major observatories around the world that observe wide areas of the sky are severely affected. For example, the Palomar Observatory in California, USA, uses a 1.2-meter diameter telescope to observe the sky, and as of August 2021, satellite streaks were found in 18% of all captured images. The problem is worsening every year. A survey conducted in April confirmed that satellite streaks appeared in 20-25% of all photos. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, currently being built in Chile by the United States, is expected to suffer especially severe damage. This observatory plans to photograph the entire sky every three days, and satellite streaks are expected to appear in all images.

The rapid increase in satellite numbers is interfering not only with optical telescopes but also with radio telescope observations, and it is causing the problem of increasing space debris. It also negatively affects life on Earth by confusing wild animals that navigate by observing celestial bodies in the sky. In response, satellite launch companies such as SpaceX and OneWeb have made efforts to reduce 'satellite pollution' by painting satellites black or installing shields, following astronomers' demands. However, SpaceX has shown a passive stance, for example, by not incorporating such designs in the latest Starlink satellites launched since September last year, citing interference with laser communications.

Another satellite internet developer, OneWeb, operates at a much higher orbit of 1,200 km compared to Starlink's 500 km, resulting in less interference. According to a study by a research team from the University of Atacama in Chile published last year, about half of the 50 OneWeb satellites already launched reflect light slightly above the threshold. Additionally, Amazon's Kuiper service, which plans to launch 3,200 satellites in the future, intends to test performance by installing light shields on test satellites to be launched this year.

Nature reported, "The IAU and many astronomical organizations worldwide have requested the U.S. government to address the problem, but no measures have been taken yet," and added, "This issue is expected to be a major topic at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space meeting to be held in Vienna, Austria, on the 1st of next month."