Aggregate effects of proliferating low-Earth-orbit objects and implications for astronomical data lost in the noise
Article
Barentine, John C., Venkatesan, Aparna, Heim, Jessica, Lowenthal, James, Kocifaj, Miroslav and Bará, Salvador. 2023. "Aggregate effects of proliferating low-Earth-orbit objects and implications for astronomical data lost in the noise." Nature Astronomy. 7 (3), pp. 252-258. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-023-01904-2
| Article Title | Aggregate effects of proliferating low-Earth-orbit objects and implications for astronomical data lost in the noise |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 213748 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Barentine, John C., Venkatesan, Aparna, Heim, Jessica, Lowenthal, James, Kocifaj, Miroslav and Bará, Salvador |
| Journal Title | Nature Astronomy |
| Journal Citation | 7 (3), pp. 252-258 |
| Number of Pages | 7 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
| ISSN | 2397-3366 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-023-01904-2 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-01904-2 |
| Abstract | The rising population of artificial satellites and associated debris in low-altitude orbits is increasing the overall brightness of the night sky, threatening ground-based astronomy as well as a diversity of stakeholders and ecosystems reliant on dark skies. We present calculations of the potentially large rise in global sky brightness from space objects in low Earth orbit, including qualitative and quantitative assessments of how professional astronomy may be affected. Debris proliferation is of special concern: we calculate that all log-decades in debris size contribute approximately the same amount of night sky radiance, so debris-generating events are expected to lead to a rapid rise in night sky brightness along with serious collision risks for satellites from centimetre-sized objects. This increase in low-Earth-orbit traffic will lead to loss of astronomical data and diminish opportunities for ground-based discoveries as faint astrophysical signals become increasingly lost in the noise. Lastly, we discuss the broader consequences of brighter skies for a range of sky constituencies, equity/inclusion and accessibility for Earth- and space-based science, and cultural sky traditions. Space and dark skies represent an intangible heritage that deserves intentional preservation and safeguarding for future generations. © 2023, Springer Nature Limited. |
| Keywords | astronomy ; astronomical data; low-Earth-orbit |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 5101. Astronomical sciences |
| Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Byline Affiliations | University of Utah, United States |
| Dark Sky Consulting, United States | |
| University of San Francisco, United States | |
| Centre for Astrophysics | |
| Smith College, United States | |
| Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia | |
| Comenius University Bratislava, Slovakia | |
| Io Coruña Astronomical Group, Spain |
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