Prof. Sam LawlerJul 6, 2023

Apparently even though the online poster session for the ALAN light pollution conference isn't for 2 weeks, I have to get my poster uploaded by tomorrow.

Which means I get to spend ALL DAY frantically putting together a poster on satellite pollution and stewing about how much I HATE Starlink. I am going to need to smash something very badly when I'm done with this poster...

Show threadProf. Sam LawlerJul 6, 2023
Just so we're all on the same page, there are currently 4,365 Starlink satellites, out of 8,111 total satellites in orbit (Starlink is 54% of all satellites - I sincerely hope they don't fuck up any of the collision avoidance maneuvers they do every single day...)
ManxDunnersJul 7, 2023
Show threadProf. Sam Lawler
Hey billionaires, I found your satellites. They're right here, fucking up my telescope data.
Jul 6, 2023 at 6:28pmWeb
Show threadMattJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets but... how else will they get high-speed internet on their yachts and private islands? /s
Show threadCoolBlenderKittenJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets
This is so awful, I just hate it. So sorry💕
Show threadBrett Sheffield (he/him)Jul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets Be nice if we could tax the owners of those objects over their lifetime and have it fund the science they're disrupting.
Show threadBiggles 20X6!Jul 6, 2023
@dentangle @sundogplanets it would be nicer if they all went deep sea exploring instead of sending trash to space
Show threadSimon BrookeJul 7, 2023
@Taco_lad @dentangle @sundogplanets It would be nicer still if they all took themselves off to Mars without enough fuel to come back.
Show threadBiggles 20X6!Jul 7, 2023
@simon_brooke @dentangle @sundogplanets and leave a mess on Mars? Untouched by living humans?
Let the deep have its revenge
Show thread…might work for coffee…Jul 6, 2023

@dentangle @sundogplanets

we got something new about them
https://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/pressreleases/2023/8

New radio astronomical observations confirm unintended electromagnetic radiation emanating from large satellite constellations

Show thread2xfoJul 6, 2023

@mwfc @dentangle @sundogplanets

TIL Starlink accounts for more than half of all satellites already. 🤯

Show thread…might work for coffee…Jul 7, 2023

@RnDanger

They want 40k, and have a lifetime of 5 years iirc.

Oh and someone wants to copy them iirc.

@dentangle @sundogplanets

Show threadtruceburner Jul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets I got a pic of a Starlink satellite train a few weeks ago. Welcome to use it.
Show threadMelissa BearTrix 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 6, 2023

@sundogplanets pout ... I'm summoning up a huge solar flare or mass magnetic field disruptor to rid all those satellites ... hugz

Hugz & xXx

Show threadAndreas, DJ3EI, he/himJul 6, 2023

This is actually less funny than you may be aware of, @melissabeartrix.

The starlink satellites are of military importance: The low ping times achievable make worldwide USA drone attacks possible, remotely controllable from USA home turf.

China knows this.

In a conflict, one way for China to remove this military ability from the USA is, to ignite a hydrogen bomb up there in space.

This is bad for a bunch of reasons. One is: This would create a massive space debris cloud.
@sundogplanets

Show threadMelissa BearTrix 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 6, 2023

@dj3ei @sundogplanets

Wouldn't that, if china does that it will also affect them ? ... It wouldn't make sense for one nation to blow the satellites

And with the cloud of debris, well if there is a solar flare or magnetic disruption I think the cloud of debris would be the least of the problems ... It may even be a help to the plant if said cloud was dense enough ... Just saying

Hugz & xXx

Show threadRev. GothAliceJul 7, 2023

@melissabeartrix @sundogplanets Downside, there, is the little side-effect of rendering us victim to a new dark age and elevating cancer rates for decades. (Earth's magnetic field protects us from [inter]stellar radiation.)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"Just technology things." 😜 I mean, it's not just superfluous satellite networks, but also weather satellites, GPS, critical telecommunications infrastructure, military command and control, and of course all of the scientific projects including JWST.

Show threadCarly SaganJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets Maybe this giant sunspot will take some out for you
Show threadBullet With Butter Tart WingsJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets Thinking back to the time the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, who had maybe a few hundred followers, got dogpiled by Musk stans for saying this is bad
Show threadGabriel PettierJul 6, 2023

@sundogplanets Don't worry, i'm sure AI will fix that problem. Or maybe you'll just have to move your telescope to Mars, i hear it's going to be pretty cheap to go pretty soon.

(sorry)

Show threadSmashedRatOnPressJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets Ridiculous. Should have been illegal to put 4300+ pieces of future space junk into low orbit. Or if not illegal, the company should have been forced to set aside ample funding for a complete clean-up of debris at the end of the satellites' lifespan.
Show threadgeographileJul 6, 2023
@sundogplanets I really want a better alternative to rural or remote internet, something that doesn't screw up telescope data. What would be better?
Show threadProf. Sam LawlerJul 7, 2023
@geographile Anything wired, or cell-tower based, or even satellite internet from satellites in geosynchronous orbit (this is slightly slower, but still very useable, from what I understand). I live in a rural place, so I understand there aren't many good options - my neighbours use Starlink. At the end of my doom-and-gloom lecture on how bad Starlink is for astronomy and orbit, I give a list of things you can do, one of which is to advocate to your gov't reps for better rural internet access.
Show threadIceNineJul 7, 2023

@sundogplanets

Got this sorted.

Show threadMᴀʀᴋ VᴀɴᴅᴇWᴇᴛᴛᴇʀɪɴɢJul 7, 2023
@sundogplanets I'm by no means an astronomer (I've spent more time building telescopes than looking through them) but it used to be a rare thing that you'd be staring through one and see a satellite cross. Now? Not so much.
Show threadRichard HendricksJul 8, 2023
@sundogplanets
1. Convince funding agencies you need a new multi-laser adaptive optics system
2. Take purchasing out on night at the town, get them completely drunk and convince them to give you their password.
3. Change the 50W lasers to 5 KW lasers.
4. Cackle. Enjoy the moment.
5. Wait patiently while the construction is completed.
6. Vaporize any and all sats crossing your field of view.
7. Revel in newly darkened skies.
Show threadarkyJul 8, 2023
@sundogplanets Another argument for bringing back progressive taxation like we used to have before the early 1980s
Show threadthe_halmaturus (moving to FireFish)Jul 9, 2023
@sundogplanets It's really sad that we are disfiguring our night sky like this. Research from the Earth's surface is certainly becoming more and more difficult. I can't even imagine what would happen if there was a cascade of collisions. Then some other space projects will probably also be ruined.

Besides, we'll probably never have a real night sky on Earth again.

Good luck to catch the area you want without disturbance