SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
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Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#2Is it worth protecting ground based astronomy here though? Obviously the science is immensely important, but so is the internet, I dont buy this idea about the lack of consensus being an issue. Certainly the scientists should have had their say, and perhaps this should have been put up for a more public debate before the project was initiated, but I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on consensus from the scientific community. It should be contingent on approval from a regulatory body that is appointed/controlled in some democratic way and reflects the will of the population, and if the benefits to society outweigh the risks, then it should get the go ahead regardless of consensus by astronomers.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#3Is it worth protecting ground based astronomy here though? Obviously the science is immensely important, but so is the internet, I dont buy this idea about the lack of consensus being an issue. Certainly the scientists should have had their say, and perhaps this should have been put up for a more public debate before the project was initiated, but I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on…
Possibly unpopular opinion: no, I don't think it's worth protecting ground-based astronomy. I could be wrong, but the majority of the important visual/IR astronomical observations from the last decade seem have come from space-based instruments, not ground-based ones. We need to put more instruments in orbit, not worry about fundamentally limited ones on the ground.
Additionally, this seems to me like an overall positive effect for the public at large. Being able to see satellites zooming across the sky is pretty cool, provides educational opportunities beyond what normal stargazing offers, and reminds people that there's something to aspire to (and look forward to) beyond what's on the ground.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#4Is it worth protecting ground based astronomy here though? Obviously the science is immensely important, but so is the internet, I dont buy this idea about the lack of consensus being an issue. Certainly the scientists should have had their say, and perhaps this should have been put up for a more public debate before the project was initiated, but I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on…
Possibly unpopular opinion: no, I don't think it's worth protecting ground-based astronomy. I could be wrong, but the majority of the important visual/IR astronomical observations from the last decade seem have come from space-based instruments, not ground-based ones. We need to put more instruments in orbit, not worry about fundamentally limited ones on the ground. Additionally, this seems to me like an overall posi…
I recall reading about how 5g might interfere with weather forecasting and hurricane tracking, that's the kind of reason that would be compelling to me to stop the satellites (such as if we need ground based telescopes to detect asteroid threats), but unless there is some ground based telescope use case that needs to be ground based and can't be done better with satellite anyway, then perhaps we should be having a different conversation: should we in fact be directing more funding towords satellites to get better space telescopes in the air and simultaneously improve research while future proofing against the inevitable filling of the night sky by satellites as launch costs continue to come down?
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#5Not too worried about it. They have a shelf life and I imagine their design will improve over time.
I'd rather see some regulations against all the lights in the Walmart/shopping mall/grocery store parking lots which have completely ruined the night sky in my area.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#6Is it worth protecting ground based astronomy here though? Obviously the science is immensely important, but so is the internet, I dont buy this idea about the lack of consensus being an issue. Certainly the scientists should have had their say, and perhaps this should have been put up for a more public debate before the project was initiated, but I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on…
>I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on consensus from the scientific community.
Something that could have immense impact on astronomy, the interest of the population in the cosmos, and a permanent change to the night sky shouldn't have some consensus, at least morally?
>It should be contingent on approval from a regulatory body that is appointed/controlled in some democratic way and reflects the will of the population,
Do those exist, much less in the current US administration?
>and if the benefits to society outweigh the risks, then it should get the go ahead regardless of consensus by astronomers.
...unless there is a way to accomplish the same thing for 99% of the population that is better implemented or doesn't affect the sky.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#7Billboards from LEO. I'm not a fan but it could monetize key tech for space travel.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#8Is it worth protecting ground based astronomy here though? Obviously the science is immensely important, but so is the internet, I dont buy this idea about the lack of consensus being an issue. Certainly the scientists should have had their say, and perhaps this should have been put up for a more public debate before the project was initiated, but I don't think that the go ahead to the project should be contingent on…
AFAICT this would affect even casual stargazers, not just astronomers.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#9Not too worried about it. They have a shelf life and I imagine their design will improve over time. I'd rather see some regulations against all the lights in the Walmart/shopping mall/grocery store parking lots which have completely ruined the night sky in my area.
after their shelf life SpaceX will send more up. That's our night sky ruined as long as SpaceX exists and any competitors.
Re: SpaceX satellites could blight the night sky, warn astronomers
#10Not too worried about it. They have a shelf life and I imagine their design will improve over time. I'd rather see some regulations against all the lights in the Walmart/shopping mall/grocery store parking lots which have completely ruined the night sky in my area.
after their shelf life SpaceX will send more up. That's our night sky ruined as long as SpaceX exists and any competitors.
That's not accurate unless you think the current satellites (many of which are far brighter, such as ISS and Iridium flares) already "ruin" the night sky.
I watched a recent pass of the Starlink satellites, and now that they're oriented near their operational directions, I could barely see them. I only noticed them because I knew right where to look. Unlike the flashing lights of passing aircraft which were a lot more distracting.