Starlink Satellites Interfering With Astronomical Observations

galaxy group
The diagonal lines in this image of the NGC 5353/4 galaxy group are trails of reflected light left by more than 25 of the 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites as they passed through a Lowell Observatory telescope’s field of view on May 25, 2019. SpaceX is testing darkening coatings to cut the satellites’ reflectivity.
Credit: Victoria Girgis/Lowell Observatory
After the first batch of SpaceX Starlink satellites reached orbit, astronomers soon spotted a glinting, star-like string of pearls draping across the twilight sky as sunlight bounced off the spacecraft train circling 273 mi. (434 km) above Earth. The novelty quickly wore thin. Even after the...

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