No more than 100 000 faint satellites should orbit Earth
A study by the European Southern Observatory warns that the rapid increase in satellite constellations could severely hinder astronomical observations. Researchers suggest a limit of 100,000 satellites to prevent excessive light pollution in the night sky.
Why it matters
The conflict between the expansion of global telecommunications networks and the preservation of scientific observation capabilities poses a major regulatory challenge for space management.
A new European Southern Observatory (ESO) study has found that current proposals to launch over 1.7 million satellites into orbit, including extremely bright ones, would have “devastating consequences for astronomy.” According to the study, no more than 100 000 faint satellites, below naked eye visibility, should orbit Earth, to safeguard our ability to observe the night sky with modern telescopes. The study is the first to compute the extent to which large and bright satellite constellations — which have also raised concerns about their impacts on health and the environment — would affect astronomical observations by making the night sky brighter.
The article presents scientific findings and industry concerns objectively.
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