Starlink launch and us poor DSO iphotographers

[Somnium]

In the next couple of days SpaceX will launch 60 satellites into a LEO to commence the starlink constellation which looks to provide high speed internet access to everyone on the globe. It is all very exciting but this is the start of a campaign that will see around 12,000 satellites launched into VLEO in the next decade.

lets put that in perspective, there are ~5000 satellites orbiting the planet right now with only ~3000 that are in LEO and impact DSO images. So you are looking at a 4x increase in satellite traffic from this constellation alone. However, they are not the only players in this game. Other perspective constellations include

Samsung 4600
telesat 117
amazon 3236
Oneweb 2522

These are all potentially coming in the next decade, so up to 22,475 additional satellites, a 750% increase in LEO traffic. The chances are that not all of these satellites will be launched and that one or 2 providers will probably come out on top but still!

needless to say, it is going to get busy up there and the chances of having a streak free sub is going to go way down. Enjoy it while you can!

[raymo]

All sorts of things that we[humans] won't like are going to happen on this
planet in the next few decades, and almost all of them man[and woman] made; this is just one of them. I am actually quite happy that I am too old
to see most of them happen, but am sorry for my kids and grandkids.
raymo

[multiweb]

Just a lot more dithering to get rid of all the crisscross.

[julianh72]

Just wondering - would a very low orbit satellite be visible, apart from just after sunset, and just before dawn? Surely, if it's in the Earth's shadow, it won't be visible? Maybe you might get an instantaneous occultation of a star every now and then?

[gaa_ian]

Who is approving this is the question?

[xelasnave]

An opportunity for software.
I recently had so many in my captures at least thirty with more than one in some frames...so many that I thought I would leave them in and turn the number into a feature of the image ...but oddly none showed up after stacking ..maybe they were treated as noise????
It surprises me when using polemaster the number passing the pole region.

Alex

[Wavytone]

Time to build an infrared or UV laser cannon and start frying the electronics in these things. It is feasible to build an IR laser capable of doing this, if you have a spare 12" dob that can be used to deliver the beam.

Those responsible will eventually give up after most of them have gone silent prematurely.

[Tandum]

Also what is their life span.

[Camelopardalis]

Who needs to take longer than 60 second subs? :shrug:

[gary]

The Starlink satellites are reported to already be intrusive for observers
at high latitudes.

Canadian friend, Alan Dyer (http://www.amazingsky.com/aboutalan.html), a highly talented and respected astrophotographer,
author and presenter, wrote today :-








Video here :-
https://youtu.be/tCZEBbwt8yQ

Alan Dyer's "Amazing Sky" web site :-
http://www.amazingsky.com/

Frame grab image copyright 2019 Alan Dyer.

[AndyG]

Thanks Gary. In isolation, I can imagine that being a beautiful sight to behold - initially. Soon enough the novelty would wear off though. Perhaps my 4 yr old boy may be the last generation to witness a clean sky. Sure, we've had satellites for decades, but sightings are an exception, not a constant norm for urbanites.

These "Trains" I guess will break up, as they gradually deploy to an equidistant contellation, like GPS?

I can imagine anyone who protests these things (for whatever valid reason) will be shouted down for being "unprogressive". Who is the target audience/market for these internet services? Developing countries perhaps, "Internet for all", etc?



I like this idea. Probably more than is healthy. Perhaps one should keep such plans on the lowdown? We all know how excited people get in laser pointer threads.

[JeniSkunk]

This garbage will turn astronomy into being an off-earth business only.
How will anyone new to Astronomy be able to tell this junk apart from actual stars?

[gary]

Hi Andy,

Out to mag 6.5, there are 9,096 naked eye stars.

Currently there are approximately 1,886 artificial satellites in Earth orbit.

The Starlink plan is to put in orbit approximately 12,000 satellites.

Several other companies have discussed having similar plans.

[gary]

Quoted as approx 5 years before needing to be replaced.

[bojan]

Hopefully Elon will go broke by then...

[Sunfish]

Yep. Just propping up the share price. Poor use of technology.

I would have thought that in some places a little more food and water would be a higher priority. However , if you control information......

Is that not so Google.

[Wavytone]

Perhaps we should encourage the Chinese to use them for target practice.

[Sunfish]

I think there will be plenty of trains of Chinese satellites up there soon enough. But perhaps they will be fuel cell powered stealth units painted mat black.

Space agencies seem to think satellites are interesting to look at rather than thinking of protocols for making them less visible.

I can’t build a reflective roof , but Musk can have a billboard in space.

[Stardrifter_WA]

https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/11/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-laws-of-space/

[Suzy]

Hi Gary, thanks heaps for all that info, that video by Alan Dyer is an amazing watch.

I'm looking forward to catching it in the next few days, Brisbane looks to get good pass on the mornings of 1st, 2nd and 3rd June, with the best being morning of 2nd.
Should be an amazing sight to see, I can't wait.

It can be tracked here for your location, pass details/times given: https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=74001&fbclid=IwAR3L1GzSCcovB6KrGtlv-fGtftnvVxl5u_-GwsXbP5t1OkwUk_nKqAt2C-M

[Suzy]

Oh. Maybe not :(.




That's me out, my sky limiting magnitude is about +4.3 and astronomical twilight at 5:08am to deal with :(.

[multiweb]

And so it begins: http://darksky.org/starlink-response/?fbclid=IwAR2lmKcMSN_4BAyudB77G6wYr 4Zss5srN_IscBk3CsupGkXszDgXfYaruN0

[bojan]

Case lost - money will prevail.
Maybe I should forget about my future observatory.... and hobby as well.


Radio-astronomy will also be affected - how to prevent those greedy individuals (and their companies) to avoid radio-astronomy windows?
It seems we are not only altering climate and poisoning environment, we are doing the same to nearby space as well.

Unless somebody finally says we have to stop multiplying ourselves (VERY unlikely) and our expansion, we will be doomed very quickly.

I am glad I will not have to look at all this for much longer.

[RB]

There's nothing wrong with that image Marc, they just need to use 'Mirror Lockup' before taking the shot.

:lol:

[multiweb]

Time to move to the moon :P

[strongmanmike]

Like traditional light pollution (let alone the truly globally dangerous human induced climate change :rolleyes: ), too many people just don't reeeally care about stuff like this...if you describe what is happening, many people will shrug and say...what? like Vivid?? Oooh cooool....:help:

Mike

[gary]

Hi Mike,

In time, the powers that be will probably start to dismiss the astronomical community as a bunch of whinging 'star-huggers'.

[strongmanmike]

Yeah like, hey, China and India are doing it, so why should lill'ol Australia worry about it :shrug:..We don't have many satellites and don't launch any...we can't make a difference...so Bah! Let's support this madness and get on board :rockband: :party2:

Mike

[cometcatcher]

I can see subs getting shorter to avoid them ruining a frame.

[billdan]

Sky and Telescope have a report on SpaceX launch with the foreboding news that this first launch of 60 sat's is only the beginning, Elon Musks' plan is to launch 12,000 of them.

https://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/spacex-launches-starlink-satellites/?k=Y5fbkqOfPQP61e4dgNC8dLHCDo3ItY4V Fqbm4R2tRhs%3D&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-190531&cid=DM122304&bid=1190197503

EDIT: Whoops I see Gary has already wrote about the 12,000 sat's.

[skysurfer]

Maybe even the last generation of mankind. Current developments, with global warming, loss of biodiversity, plastic in oceans, space around Earth full with crap are devastating.