Flagstaff, Arizona (AZ Family) — In Flagstaff, There are laws to protect dark skies. and astronomical research to reduce light pollution from the ground.
However, researchers lowell observatory He said thousands of satellites being launched into the atmosphere each year could have an impact on future research.
Lowell Observatory Executive Director Amanda Bosch He states that it is important for space research to know whether the sky is dark or clear.
“There is growing concern about the impact it will have on astronomical research,” Bosch said. “The more satellites there are, the more likely there are satellites in any given patch.”
According to I’m currently circling, The satellite tracking system currently has more than 10,000 satellites in orbit. About 6,500 of these are Elon Musk’s Starlink.
One of the main concerns for researchers is that when trying to record objects with a telescope, satellites can appear and ruin the image.
“It’s also possible that a series of stripes from these satellites will appear across the image,” Bosch says. “Sometimes you can sit on your skis for an hour and if you can’t use them, it’s an hour wasted.”
Bosch said satellites are a double-edged sword. Starlink provides internet access And the satellites show humanity’s achievements.
“This is a sign of human technological progress,” Bosch said. “And I stopped and thought, ‘Oh yeah.’ What does that mean for our Lowell Discovery Telescope science program?” spoke.
According to Astronomy.comThere could be 100,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.
Bosch said solutions could include limiting the number of satellites or regulating the size of solar panels that reflect the most light.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean we can’t put Starlink satellites in the sky,” she says. “It’s about how we coexist.”
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