Nature has published a series of essays in which researchers from around the world warn of a "unprecedented global threat" to nature and science from a growing number of satellites in low orbits. Many of these consequences are difficult to predict but are nevertheless expected.
Since 2019, the number of satellites at an altitude of up to 2 thousand km has quadrupled, according to the most conservative estimates. This will increase the already impressive cloud of debris in orbit and, therefore, increase the amount of light reflected back to Earth.
Those who are likely to be the first to suffer from light pollution are astronomers and everyone who works in this industry. By the end of the next decade, the darkest part of the sky will be brightened by 7.5%, as will the observatory, which is currently under construction in Chile.
The impact of the flare will increase the observation time and will result in direct cost overruns, according to the authors of another article. In their opinion, the damage from the illumination of the night sky and the consequences are very, very underestimated.
The cosmos is our common heritage and ancestor, and is now in jeopardy, according to University of San Francisco astronomer.
Given the economic interests at stake, scientists are aware that "it is naive to expect that the rapidly expanding space economy will limit itself if it is not forced to." They do not demand "to take and forbid," but they want to treat the problem with all the care before it is too late.
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