Starlink Satellites Blinding Astronomers

Starlink Satellites Blinding Astronomers

Scientists in the Netherlands are sounding the alarm as Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network disrupts their ability to study the universe.

These second-generation satellites, which deliver global internet access, emit far more interference than earlier models, according to the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (ASTRON).

Starlink’s V2 satellites flood radio telescopes with interference, making it difficult to research black holes, distant galaxies, and exoplanets.

ASTRON’s director, Professor Jessica Dempsey, says the new satellites emit radiation 32 times stronger than the previous ones. “We see less and less of the sky,” she says.

With over 6,400 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth at 550 kilometers and more launching weekly, the problem intensifies.

Lead researcher Cees Bassa compares the interference to “the difference between the faintest stars and the brightness of the full Moon.”

SpaceX previously discussed reducing radiation from earlier models with astronomers, but the V2 satellites have only worsened the situation. Dempsey warns that, without changes, ground-based astronomy faces an existential threat.

Scientists are pushing for stricter regulations to limit satellite radiation and preserve their view of space. Without immediate action, they fear the sky will soon be dominated by human-made satellites instead of natural celestial bodies.

Starlink Satellites Blinding Astronomers

-BBC