Megaconstellations of Satellites: a Threat to the Night Sky

Several companies are now launching megaconstellations of thousands of communication satellites (satcons), which would increase the number of active satellites in Low Earth Orbit at least twenty-fold in the next few years.

SpaceX's Starlink satcon is currently largest (over 2,400 satellites) and is adding 60 new satellites every couple of weeks. While these satcons do allow internet access in many underserved rural and remote locations, the costs are prohibitively high for all but the most well-off customers. These thousands of satellites each reflect sunlight, causing serious problems for research astronomy, and making anthropogenic light pollution a fully global phenomenon that cannot be escaped anywhere on Earth.

Our recent simulations show that because of geometry and the chosen satellite orbits, latitudes near 50 degrees N and S will see the worst light pollution from these satcons, with hundreds of naked-eye visible satellites all night long in the summer. These satellites also contribute to significant atmospheric pollution, both on launch and re-entry, contribute to diffuse sky emission, and drastically increase the very real threat of Kessler Syndrome.

Dr. Lawler will talk about how these satellites will affect stargazers and astronomers worldwide, and what you can do to help mitigation efforts.

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Bio:
Samantha Lawler studies the orbits of Kuiper Belt objects, exoplanets, and dust disks using optical and IR observations and dynamical simulations. She completed her undergrad degree at Caltech, followed by two years there working with early Spitzer Space Telescope data, and then earned a Master's degree from Wesleyan University. She completed her PhD at UBC, a postdoc at UVic, and then a Plaskett Fellowship at NRC-Herzberg, all while raising kids and getting slowly drawn further into farm life with her partner.

Somehow, magically, she found an amazing balance: she is now an assistant professor of astronomy at Campion College at the University of Regina, and lives on a 150 acre farm where she helps raise goats, chickens, and organic vegetables with her partner and kids, while enjoying and trying to protect the huge prairie skies.

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RASC Calgary Centre:
Each month, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Calgary Centre brings you astronomy events just like this, which are free for anyone to attend.

To unlock additional RASC member benefits, including the Telescopes for Rent program, access to a members-only observatory, and much more, visit the RASC Calgary Centre website for information on how to join.