Satellites hampering radio astronomy — Science Information, October 5, 1974
Up to now, the satellites and probes launched by NASA and others efficiently averted battle with the radio frequency bands reserved for radio astronomy. However now there’s hassle.
The trespassers are two main U.S. satellites launched in Might…. When both of the satellites is on or close to the road between an observer and what he desires to check, the work is rendered tough or unattainable… radio astronomers might be able to dwell with one or two such interlopers. Twenty or 100 could be a disaster for radio astronomy.
Replace
The battle between astronomers and satellites has solely gotten worse. Non-public firms have launched hundreds of latest satellites since 2019 alone, far outstripping what astronomers thought could be catastrophic within the ’70s (SN: 3/12/20). As of September, there are upwards of 10,000 energetic satellites in Earth’s orbit, and non-public firms proceed to launch extra (SN: 4/8/23, p. 5).
Astronomers are frightened that disaster is imminent, partly as a result of many trendy satellites emit much more radiation than beforehand thought (SN: 9/30/24). Optical telescopes are additionally now affected: The satellites go away brilliant streaks throughout photographs of the evening sky, making the photographs tough to investigate. Efforts to mitigate the issue by modifying the satellites or their orbits have had combined outcomes (SN: 10/9/21 & 10/23/21, p. 14).
