By: Ruskin Hartley and John Barentine Last summer, a new phenomenon startled night-sky watchers everywhere: for the first few weeks of their operation, Starlink satellites appeared as a group of objects orbiting together, a bright… Read more
Satellite Megaconstellations and the Night Sky
If you’ve spent time looking at the sky in the last few months, you may have noticed an increase in the number of moving objects streaming across the night sky. You’re not imagining things. In… Read more
The Human Environment Includes Orbital Space
By Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director Protecting the night from light pollution for all living things requires bold action. Today, we call on the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and all who value the dark… Read more
IDA Responds to Satellite Megaconstellations
Mega constellations, also known as low earth-orbit (“LEO”) satellite constellations, are webs of networked satellites that orbit the Earth at altitudes of 2,000 km or less intended to provide global telecommunications services. The brightness and… Read more
Why do “Mega-constellations” Matter to the Dark Sky Community?
Mega constellations, also known as low earth-orbit (“LEO”) satellite constellations, are webs of networked satellites, which orbit the Earth at altitudes of 2,000 km or less. These webs of satellites are intended to offer uninterrupted… Read more
Response to SpaceX Starlink Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation
Tucson, AZ – On May 23, 2019, the spacecraft company, SpaceX launched a group of sixty satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). Due to their reflective solar panels and other metal surfaces, the satellites are… Read more