Prof. Sam Lawler5d ago

I blew off a LOT of emails while at the Canadian Astronomical Society meeting last week! And I have almost dug myself out of that email pile (well, as good as that ever gets).

There was one email I almost blew off during the meeting because I assumed it was an astronomer asking for a visualization of future satellites. But it was actually someone from CNN(!!) asking! Oops.

Show threadProf. Sam Lawler5d ago

After some back-and-forth trying to understand exactly what they were asking for NOW NOW NOW, @hannorein made exactly what they were looking for.

Please enjoy(?) this horrifying visualization of how many Starlink sats are in orbit right now, and how many SpaceX has asked for in the future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfOgp9gp2hA

Alt-text for video in link: the Earth getting gradually surrounded by a grid of more and more orbiting satellites, until the million data centre plan completely hides Earth.

Current and future megaconstellations.

YouTube
Show threadSchamschula
@sundogplanets @hannorein These mega-constellations make such a difference! I have used an old animation as part of my Physical Science and Astronomy classes. It only shows the classical science/national security satellites along with the ring of those on a geostationary orbit. Time to download the App to my teaching MBP.
Jun 15 at 5:55pmWeb