Satellites are 'unprecedented global threat', warn scientists

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Scientists have warned that artificial light and satellite constellations are an unprecedented global threat to nature and cultural heritage.

Space junk surround the planet. (ESA)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 23, 2023 18:29 IST

Earth at the moment has over 8,000 satellites in operation, covering every length and breadth of the planet. SpaceX alone has launched over 3000 small internet satellites and OneWeb is launching more this Sunday. Scientists have warned that this increasing number of satellites is a threat.

Scientists have warned that artificial light and satellite constellations are an unprecedented global threat to nature and cultural heritage as they block the view of the night sky. Astronomers have warned that the increasing number of satellites is threatening the profession of astronomy as the view of the cosmos is blocked.

In a paper published in Nature Astronomy, they said that the unfettered access to dark night skies is rapidly diminishing, due to light pollution and satellite constellation tracks. Scientists should do more to stand up to 'big light' and 'big space' and preserve this natural resource.

"Regarding the impacts of LEO satellites on the night sky and science, it is similarly naive to hope that the skyrocketing space economy will limit itself, if not forced to do so," scientists said.

They added that the "approach of part of the scientific community to this rising problem is to mitigate the impact of the light reflected toward the night hemisphere by these satellites, by lowering their brightness, by closing the shutters of telescopes' instruments when they are in the field of view, by pointing telescopes where there are no satellites, trying to skip them. This might mitigate some of the problems, but will not solve them." The debris objects shown in the images are an artist's impression based on actual density data. (Photo: Nasa)

Scientists across the world have been warning about the consequences of the growing satellite numbers around Earth. Apart from causing light pollution, the satellites also pose a challenge to space debris as more and more junk piles up after a satellite's end of its mission.

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Scientists are worried that even if the issue of light pollution is addressed, many other problems will remain unresolved, including orbital traffic concerns, and atmospheric pollution from debris and from rocket exhaust gases. "Such an unprecedented escalation should be stopped at the outset and regulated, with some suggestions given below," the paper read.

Researchers from Italy, Chile, and Galicia in December last year analysed and compared the light pollution levels at major astronomical observatories and revealed the need for immediate action to decrease the amount of pollution coming from artificial light. They found that light is polluting the sky above most observatories, affecting the correct observations.

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Published By:

Sibu Kumar Tripathi

Published On:

Mar 23, 2023

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