I have an email from my collaborator saying he just re-ran the CRASH Clock code, and we are now under 3 days for the first time ever! Good work on bringing us that much closer to Kessler Syndrome, everybody. Special congrats to SpaceX on that one. Hope you take full credit when it starts!

https://outerspaceinstitute.ca/crashclock/ (Website hasn't been updated yet, but here's info on what the CRASH Clock tells us about how close we are to Kessler Syndrome)

I have another email from @planet4589.bsky.social saying that he's already put the brand new proposed AI data center megaconstellation on his website https://planet4589.org/space/con/conlist.html

That's now 3 new AI data center megaconstellations proposed in the last month or so, one of which has a million satellites (thanks, SpaceX. You suck.)

Thanks to many hours from many astronomers, the response to SpaceX's response to AAS's petition to deny is ready for approval, has to be submitted by Monday.

And it appears that Reflect Orbital missed the deadline to respond to the nearly 2000 comments and petitions to deny that were submitted to the FCC!!!! Thank you to everyone who wrote in!!

This is amazing. It unfortunately probably doesn't mean that they will stop the process of launching, the FCC will still consider it, and may approve it. But at least I don't have to help write a new response by like... Tuesday. Fuck you, FCC, this process is awful and stupid.

And last but not least, HOLY SHIT the stars were fucking incredible last night!!!! (No auroras visible from here but the stars were so good who cares)

(Lots of satellites, of course. Sigh.)

And lastly, Kia Ora, Tekapo!! Excited to give a talk for you later today. (It's at 4pm, not 6am, this website is wrong) https://happeningnext.com/event/astronomy-vs-the-billionaire-space-race-eid3a0dhdn6jl
Last scheduled talk of the #ProfSamLectureTour

Now time to (politely and carefully) wander around an active sheep farm! Happy equinox!