Scientists warn that more than 1.7 million planned satellites could create a new form of space pollution and permanently change the night sky
Astronomers are warning that the planned launch of over 1.7 million satellites could permanently alter the night sky and hinder scientific observation. Research from the European Southern Observatory highlights the risks posed by these mega-constellations to both professional astronomy and public sky-viewing.
Why it matters
It addresses the tension between the expansion of global telecommunications infrastructure and the preservation of the natural environment and scientific research capabilities.
The rapid expansion of artificial satellite constellations is changing the appearance and accessibility of the night sky, creating a new challenge to the field of astronomy. For decades, the primary concern for astronomers was light pollution present on earth, but the introduction of large-scale telecommunication networks, such as SpaceX’s Starlink, has introduced a new form of orbital traffic. Two research papers published by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) provide a quantitative analysis of the impacts of satellite constellations. The first study, published in 2020, examined the initial plans for 26,000 satellites, while the updated 2026 study evaluated the threat of over 1.7 million planned objects.
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