"Astronomy educates the public; astronomy trains a data- and technology-centred workforce; astronomy supports other sciences, providing a laboratory to physicists and a chance to investigate other worlds to biologists and geologists; astronomy inspires curiosity and art and interest in science; astronomy involves big projects; astronomy gets people out into nature; astronomy is an international field, with global collegiality; astronomy adds to the repository of human knowledge. These are the aspects of astronomy that we should be regularly reminding our elected representatives about."

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-026-02830-9

#astronomy #astrophysics #LightPollution #satellite #megaconstellations #spaceX #ReflectOrbital #billionaires

Hyperscalers are coming to an orbit near you. Power will decide the winners.

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/hyperscalers-are-coming-to-an-orbit-near-you-power-will-decide-the-winners/

China designates space sector an “emerging pillar industry,” sets deep space ambitions in new economic blueprint

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/china-designates-space-sector-an-emerging-pillar-industry-sets-deep-space-ambitions-in-new-economic-blueprint/

@sundogplanets probably you already knew this but i just came across this thanks to a colleague of mine that sent me tho link. Amazon satellites are pretty bright --> https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.07708

Abstract: "The mean apparent magnitude of Amazon Leo satellites is 6.28 based on 1,938 observations. For spacecraft in their operational mode, 92% exceeded the brightness limit recommended by the IAU for interference with research, while 25% distract from aesthetic appreciation of the night sky. The reflective characteristics are similar to Version 1 Starlink spacecraft."

#satellites #amazon #megaconstellations #skypollution #satellitepollution #lightpollution #space #astronomy

CSE's own @sundogplanets (University of Regina) has a new article with Gregory Radisic (Bond University) in @TheConversationUS in which they argue that the rapid expansion of #satellite #megaconstellations poses a catastrophic threat to Earth's orbit and the cultural heritage of the night sky and advocate for a Dark Skies Impact Assessment to regulate these impacts before they become irreversible.

https://theconversation.com/too-many-satellites-earths-orbit-is-on-track-for-a-catastrophe-but-we-can-stop-it-275430

#Space #SpaceEnvironment

Senate committee delays consideration of bill to streamline FCC satellite licensing

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/senate-committee-delays-consideration-of-bill-to-streamline-fcc-satellite-licensing/

RE: https://mastodon.social/@netblocks/115995544730749317

🗨️ 👩🏽‍💻 Evil #iran, of course - and that's why the noble world now needs #starlink to give free rein to the real #US threat from lower orbit - that's what I call a clear political classification, and not a finding from #research that would actually offer the global population #protection from real catastrophes in crisis, right?

#civilprotection #civildefence #intranet
#backup for #life
#megaconstellations
#datacontrol
#tech #news

SpaceX files plans for million-satellite orbital data center constellation

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/spacex-files-plans-for-million-satellite-orbital-data-center-constellation/

"The sky is getting crowded. In the last few years, the number of #satellite launches has increased by an order of magnitude as #megaconstellations of internet-powering hardware crowd into low Earth orbit. The pace of both launching and retiring these units is creating new kinds of #pollution, potentially upsetting the #climate system and the protective #ozone layer."

https://salatainstitute.harvard.edu/burning-satellites-in-the-stratosphere-emerging-questions-for-climate/

#Space #SpaceEnvironment #Atmosphere