The Brightened Night Sky Nobody Actually Wanted

Experts warn US-approved space mirror could threaten astronomers, pilots, and wildlife

Experts are warning that a new satellite designed to unfurl a giant mirror in space and point it at Earth could pose serious risks to astronomers and ecosystems alike.  What happened? According to The Verge, after gaining approval from the Federal Communications Commission, California space technology company Reflect Orbital plans to launch a test satellite named Eärendil-1 that would aim a mirror nearly 60 feet across into orbit. There, it woul…

New space mirrors may threaten the night sky

A company plans to launch space mirrors to light up the night but critics warn of risks to health and astronomy.

The Brightened Night Sky Nobody Actually Wanted

A new study modelling Reflect Orbital's proposed constellation of giant orbital mirrors finds their light pollution would be severe. A single 54 metre satellite would appear four magnitudes brighter than the full moon to anyone in its beam, and its scattered glow would outshine moonlight across the sky from 14 kilometres away, remaining visible from over 30 kilometres out. With the pilot satellite already approved by the FCC despite astronomer o…