Monthly Archives: June 2024

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 3059, located approximately 57 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Carina.

This image not only showcases the beauty of the galaxy but also provides valuable insights into the processes of star formation. The intricate details revealed by Hubble's instruments highlight the dynamic and complex structure of NGC 3059, a galaxy teeming with star-forming regions and other fascinating features.

The data for this image were collected in May 2024 using Hubbles Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). The observations employed a range of filters, including the crucial narrow-band H-alpha filter. This specific filter isolates the H-alpha emission at 656.46 nanometers, a key indicator of star-forming regions.

By using this filter, astronomers can identify areas within the galaxy where new stars are being born. These regions often appear as bright, red patches in the images, indicating high concentrations of hydrogen gas that are actively forming new stars.

The H-alpha emission is a result of hydrogen atoms emitting red light under certain conditions, often associated with the birth of new stars. This emission line is a vital tool for astronomers studying star formation and the physical conditions within galaxies.

The image of NGC 3059 reveals several such regions, highlighting the dynamic and active nature of this barred spiral galaxy. These findings are crucial for understanding the lifecycle of stars and the overall process of galaxy evolution.

Filters play a crucial role in observational astronomy by allowing astronomers to isolate specific wavelengths of light. Narrow-band filters, like the H-alpha filter used in this study, are particularly valuable because they can pinpoint specific physical and chemical processes occurring in space.

These filters enable scientists to conduct detailed studies of astronomical objects and phenomena. For example, the H-alpha filter helps identify regions of ionized hydrogen gas, which are indicative of star formation activities.

In addition to the narrow-band filter, the image of NGC 3059 was created using data from five other wide-band filters. These filters allow a broader range of light wavelengths to pass through, providing a more comprehensive view of the galaxy. The wide-band filters capture light across the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectrum, which helps to map out different components of the galaxy, such as its spiral arms, central bar, and various star populations.

The combination of narrow-band and wide-band filters results in a rich, detailed image that captures both the general structure and specific features of the galaxy. This multi-wavelength approach allows astronomers to study the interplay between different stellar populations and the interstellar medium.

NGC 3059, also known as ESO 37-7, IRAS 09496-7341, or LEDA 28298, has a diameter of 55,000 light-years. It was discovered by English astronomer John Herschel on February 22, 1835. The detailed observations made by Hubble provide a deeper understanding of the processes occurring within this galaxy, particularly the mechanisms driving star formation. The data reveal not only the locations of star-forming regions but also their distribution and intensity, offering clues about the galaxy's past interactions and overall star formation history.

Studying galaxies like NGC 3059 helps astronomers piece together the broader puzzle of galactic evolution and the lifecycle of stars. The presence of numerous star-forming regions within NGC 3059 indicates that it is an active and evolving galaxy.

By analyzing the data collected through these filters, scientists can gain insights into the initial stages of star formation and the conditions required for these processes to occur. Moreover, the study of barred spiral galaxies like NGC 3059 helps astronomers understand the role of galactic bars in funneling gas towards the central regions, triggering star formation.

The role of the central bar in NGC 3059 is particularly intriguing. Galactic bars are thought to act as engines driving the inward flow of gas, which can lead to bursts of star formation in the central regions of the galaxy. Observations of NGC 3059s bar and its impact on the surrounding star formation provide valuable data for testing models of galaxy dynamics and evolution. This helps refine our understanding of how galaxies like the Milky Way have evolved over billions of years.

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Hubble Reveals Stunning Galaxy Concealing the Mysteries of Star Formation - The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel

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This week, early risers can look for Mars and Saturn on parade with a slim crescent Moon.

In this view at 4 a.m. EDT local time on May 31, Saturn lies just 0.4 from the Moon. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly

The waning Moon continues its journey through our skies this week, passing by a couple of bright planets:the red planet Mars and the ringed wonder Saturn. In the pre-dawn hours on June 4, look east and youll see a very slender crescent Moon just 6 percent illuminated with Mars and Saturn both glowing at around first magnitude. This pretty scene will make for a great wide-field photograph, and is ripe for further exploration with binoculars or a telescope.

To learn more about observing this months full planetary parade, check out the June 2024 edition of Sky This Month.

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The Moon, Mars, and Saturn line up: This Week in Astronomy with Dave Eicher - Astronomy Magazine

Best Monocular 2024: Jump Menu

The best monocular can be a handy and portable way to view wildlife, birds or the night sky. While they may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of optical equipment, they can have several benefits over the best binoculars and the best telescopes.

As what is essentially half of a pair of binoculars, a monocular is a small, lightweight option for viewing distant objects that is pocket-sized and even more travel-friendly than a pair of the best compact binoculars.

They're also simple to use and don't need the technical know-how required for setting up even the best beginner telescopes. This makes them perfect for travelers who want to quickly pull out an observation device when they spot something interesting in the distance.

Our reviewers have tried and tested a range of different monocular options to bring you a list of the very best on the market, for different users and budgets.

Jamie Carter

Jamie is a Contributing Writer for Space.com and put together this guide. He is an experienced science, technology and travel journalist and stargazer who writes about exploring the night sky, solar and lunar eclipses, moon-gazing, astro-travel, astronomy and space exploration.

Jamie is the editor ofWhenIsTheNextEclipse.comand authorofA Stargazing Program For Beginners,and is a senior contributor at Forbes.

Best super lightweight model

Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42

Best super lightweight model

Despite its low price, the wide-field ED optics use the most recent multi-coating technology, which results in plenty of contrast, clarity and a premium feel.

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Best for ruggedness

Hawke Endurance ED 10x42 monocular

Best for ruggedness

This lightweight and waterproof monocular is ideal for observing in the wilderness. This monocular is made to survive the elements and has a waterproof chassis and strong grip armoring.

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Best premium monocular

Bushnell Legend Ultra 10x42 monocular

Best premium monocular

Boasting a 42mm objective lens and a 10x magnification, Bushnell's ED Prime HD glass, with its multi-coated and anti-reflective optics, provides clear and detailed views at just 13.2 oz.

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Best for wildlife

Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 monocular

Best for wildlife

At 15x magnification, the Vortex Recon R/T 15x50 will give you a closer look at objects than your average monocular or pair of astronomy-centric binoculars.

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Best for spectacles wearers

Opticron Oregon 4 PC 10x42 monocular

Best for spectacles wearers

This monocular has phase-corrected prism coatings and multi-coated optics to deliver clear, crisp views daily and in low light.

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Best for magnification

Apexel 36x super zoom monocular/smartphone lens

Best for magnification

Apexel 36x is a fixed optical zoom monocular that doubles as a smartphone lens for taking photos and videos of the Moon.

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Best for use with a smartphone

Celestron Outland X 10x50

Best for use with a smartphone

The Celestron Outland X 10x50 monocular has a smartphone mount and could be considered an ideal digiscoping companion for those who want to image the night sky, especially the Moon.

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Best for moon observations

Best for moon observations

With a maximum of 25x magnification, this variable-magnification monocular is best suited to lunar viewing but can also focus on objects only 20 inches/50 cm away.

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Best super lightweight model for wide angles: boasting great specifications for basic astronomy

Magnification: 8x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm / 1.73-inch

Field of view: 7.8 degrees

Eye relief: 18mm / 0.71-inch

Closest focusing distance: 6.6ft / 2.01m

Waterproof: Yes

Fog-proof: Yes

Weight: 9.2 oz / 261g

Dimensions: 4.72 x 1.57 x 1.69-inch / 120 x 40 x 43mm

Top quality optics

Waterproof and fog-proof

Pocketable

Ergonomically nicer than the binocular counterpart

Low stock

Buy it if

You want a great all-rounder:It's affordable, lets plenty of light through, is compact and lightweight, good for beginners and stargazers, can withstand tough conditions and has excellent ED optics.

Don't buy it if:

You want high magnification:For zooming in on fine details, you'd likely want an instrument that has a higher magnification. A 10x variant of this model is available.

The bottom line

Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42A great all-rounder that boasts fantastic quality optics in a compact package at an affordable price. Perfect for wide-field observations and comfortable and easy to use.

For those who are new to stargazing, the Opticron Explorer WA ED-2 8x42 is a fantastic monocular. It can capture a lot of light from distant stars because of the 42mm objective lens, and the 8x magnification is perfect for reducing wobbles and improving focus on objects.

This monocular is very portable, waterproof to three meters and nitrogen-filled to minimize fogging while moving between warm and cold conditions, making it ideal for a whole hostof outdoor activities. Additionally, a soft neoprene travel case with a cushioned strap, rain protection and rubber lens covers to prevent scratches on the glass is included.

Glasses-wearers will benefit from the generous 17mm eye relief, and it even comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Overall, this is a reasonably-priced monocular with a wide-field view that is ideal for newcomers to astronomy who want to get their first look at the night sky.

Despite the affordable price, the optics on this monocular really are excellent. It features extra-low dispersion (ED) glass to reduce chromatic aberration and ensure accurate color rendition. The optics are also multi-coated, which helps them to produce an image with good contrast and clarity. All this makes it feel like a more premium product than the price would suggest.

Today's best Opticron Explorer WA ED-R 8x42 deals

Best for ruggedness: this lightweight and waterproof monocular is ideal for observing in the wilderness

Magnification: 10x

Objective lens diameter: 42mm / 1.65-inch

Field of view: 5.8 degrees

Eye relief: 13mm / 0.51-inch

Closest focusing distance: 6.6ft / 2.01m

Waterproof: Yes

Fog-proof: Yes

Weight: 11.5oz / 326g

Dimensions: 5.6 x 3.1-inch / 143 x 80mm

Excellent optics

Astro-centric specifications

Waterproof and fog-proof

Large for a pocket

Eye relief isn't great

Buy it if

You want to travel with it:It's lightweight and portable (although not small enough to fit into a pocket), making it a great option for observing wildlife or the night sky when out and about.

Don't buy it if:

You wear glasses:The eye relief is only 13mm, so if you wear eyeglasses you'd be wise to choose a different option.

The bottom line

Hawke Endurance ED 10x42 monocularFantastic quality glass in a small and lightweight package, making it perfect for on-the-go observations. It's designed to withstand various weather conditions and comes with great quality accessories.

The Hawke Endurance ED 10x42 has a tough, durable design, making it perfect for travel. It's built to handle rough conditions while still providing high-quality performance. This monocular has special phase-corrected BaK-4 roof prisms, fully multi-coated lenses and extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. These features help capture more light and reduce color distortion, giving you a very clear and true-to-color image. Overall, we think it makes for a really great viewing experience.

With its waterproof optics, you can use this monocular worry-free even in rough weather. Plus, it's nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging. And with its rubber casing, lens covers and lanyard, you're less likely to accidentally drop or misplace it.

With more than 350 reviews on Amazon, users like the portability, value and ease of use, scoring this monocular 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.

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Best monocular 2024: Spy top models on the market - Space.com

Astronomers using the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile have imaged 177-341 W, a proplyd an externally illuminated protoplanetary disk around a young star located in the Orion Nebula Cluster.

This VLT/MUSE image shows the proplyd 177-341 W. Image credit: ESO / Aru et al., doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202349004.

Young stars are surrounded by a disk of gas and dust the building materials for planets.

When other very bright and massive stars are present nearby, their light heats the young stars disk, stripping away part of its material.

Protoplanetary disks, composed of gas and dust, emerge as a consequence of the star formation process, and provide the birth-places of planetary systems, explained ESO astronomer Mari-Liis Aru and colleagues.

The evolutionary pathways of protoplanetary disks and their ability to form planets are expected to differ depending on the surrounding environment, with disks undergoing rapid changes in the presence of massive stars.

In massive clusters near OB-type stars, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can externally photoevaporate disks and severely diminish their size, mass, and survival timescale.

The astronomers used the MUSE instrument on ESOs Very Large Telescope to observe 177-341 W and 11 other proplyds in the Orion Nebula Cluster, which is about 400 parsecs distant from the Sun.

The stars eroding away the disk of 177-341 W are out of the frame past the upper-right corner, the researchers said.

When their radiation clashes with the material around the young star, it creates the bright, bow-like structure seen here in yellow.

The tail extending from the star towards the lower-left corner is material being dragged away from 177-341 W by the stars out of the field of view.

The colors shown in this image map different elements like hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, they added.

But this is just a small fraction of all the data gathered by MUSE, which actually takes thousands of images at different colors or wavelengths simultaneously.

This allows us to study the physical properties of protoplanetary disks in great detail, including the amount of mass that they lose.

A paper on the findings appears in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

_____

M.-L. Aru et al. 2024. Kaleidoscope of irradiated disks: MUSE observations of proplyds in the Orion Nebula Cluster. I. Sample presentation and ionization front sizes. A&A, in press; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202349004

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MUSE Spots Bizarre Stellar Object with Illuminated Protoplanetary Disk - Sci.News

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A line of solar system worlds is getting ready to wow in the pre-dawn sky next month.

Theres a major planetary lineup coming to the early-morning sky, with the Moon joining in several times in June.

First, though, lets look at why such lineups occur. If you were to turn our solar system on its side and look at it edge-on, youd notice that all the planets orbit in a relatively flat plane around the Sun. We call this plane the ecliptic, which is defined specifically by Earths orbit around our star. So, Earths orbit is tilted 0 from the ecliptic because it defines the ecliptic. All the other planets orbits are inclined somewhat from the ecliptic, but not much Mercurys inclination is the highest, and its just 7.

When we look up into the sky from Earth, we see that all the planets and the Sun and (mostly) the Moon lie along the ecliptic in our sky. And when everything happens to fall into a position such that we can see several planets in the sky at once, they all tend to stand in a line precisely because they all follow that flat ecliptic. The geometry isnt always perfect, as the planets orbits do have those small inclinations, but its always a stunning sight to see.

On June 3, six planets form a straight line through the pre-dawn sky that stretches from Jupiter on the eastern end (closest to the horizon) up through Mercury, Uranus, Mars, and Neptune, to Saturn on the western end, highest in the sky before sunrise. Some 20 minutes before sunrise, all six planets should be visible, though note that Uranus (magnitude 5.9) and Neptune (magnitude 7.8) will be too faint for naked-eye observing and, although theyre present in the lineup, will need binoculars or a telescope to spot. But Jupiter (magnitude 2), Mercury (magnitude 1), Mars (magnitude 1), and Saturn (magnitude 1) will all stand out clearly to the naked eye in a line spanning some 73 on the sky.

Whats more, a delicate waning crescent Moon is crashing the party as well, standing just to the lower left of Mars. Note, however, that our Moon is not perfectly in line thats because Lunas orbit is tilted some 5 with respect to the ecliptic.

The next morning, June 4, the crescent Moon does a little better, falling more closely in line a bit farther from Mars. But now Mercury has stepped out of place and stands to Jupiters lower right (south) as the two planets reach a close conjunction just 7 apart not to be missed, especially in binoculars or telescopes!

By June 5, Mercury lies to Jupiters lower left, replacing the gas giant as the easternmost point in the planetary lineup. And the nearly New Moon (just 2 percent lit) stands above the pair.

As June progresses, Mercury quickly ducks out of view, passing close to the Sun before reappearing in the evening sky and leaving us with only five planets in the pre-dawn sky. But those planets continue to form a nice, clean line, stretching nearly 80 from Jupiter to Saturn (with Uranus, Mars, and Neptune in between) by June 30. On this morning, the Moon as rejoined the line, once again a delicate waning crescent about 33 percent lit, hanging perfectly in place to Mars upper right.

Planetary lineups like this arent uncommon, but theyre always beautiful. Its well worth taking some time, even if you have to get up a bit early, to stand outside and enjoy a clear view across the solar system from your doorstep.

For weekly updates on the planets, stars, and more, make sure to also check out our Sky This Week column.

Editors note: This article was first published in May and has been updated.

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Look up to see the parade of planets in June's pre-dawn sky (and bring binoculars) - Astronomy Magazine

Starlink is the name of a satellite network developed by the private spaceflight company SpaceX to provide low-cost internet to remote locations.

A Starlink satellite has a lifespan of approximately five years and SpaceX eventually hopes to have as many as 42,000 satellites in this so-called megaconstellation.

The current V2 Starlink satellite version weighs approximately 1,760 lbs (800 kilograms) at launch, almost three times heavier than the older generation satellites (weighing in at 573 lbs or 260 kg), according to Spaceflight Now.

Related: Wild solar weather is causing satellites to plummet from orbit

As of May 2024, there are 6,078 Starlink satellites in orbit, of which 6,006 are working, according to Astronomer Jonathan McDowell who tracks the constellation on his website.

The size and scale of the Starlink project concerns astronomers, who fear that the bright, orbiting objects will interfere with observations of the universe, as well as spaceflight safety experts who now see Starlink as the number one source of collision hazard in Earth's orbit. In addition to that, some scientists worry that the amount of metal that will be burning up in Earth's atmosphere as old satellites are deorbited could trigger unpredictable changes to the planet's climate.

Starlink satellites orbit approximately 342 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth and put on a spectacular show for observers as they move across the sky. This show is not welcomed by all and can significantly hinder both optical and radio astronomical observations.

You don't need any special equipment to see Starlink satellites as they are visible to the unaided eye. The satellites can appear as a string of pearls or a "train" of bright lights moving across the night sky. Starlink satellites are easier to see a day or two after their launch and deployment then become progressively harder to spot as they climb to their final orbital height of around 342 miles (550 km).

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

Our list of the best stargazing apps may help you with your Starlink viewing planning. If you want to see where all of the Starlink satellites are located in real-time check out this Starlink map showing the global coverage of each Starlink satellite as well as information on how many are currently in service, inactive or have burned up in Earth's atmosphere.

Related: How to photograph Starlink satellites guide.

To see current Starlink internet availability around the world, and if it's available where you are, Starlink has an interactive map detailing locations where Starlink internet is available, which areas are on the waitlist as well as areas that are "coming soon".

"Starlink is ideally suited for areas where connectivity has been unreliable or completely unavailable," the Starlink main page states. "People across the globe are using Starlink to gain access to education, health services and even communications support during natural disasters."

More information about Starlink setup, along with answers to frequently answered questions, are available on the customer service page.

SpaceX's satellite internet proposal was announced in January 2015. Though it wasn't given a name at the time, CEO Elon Musk said that the company had filed documents withinternational regulators to place about 4,000 satellites in low Earth orbit.

"We're really talking about something which is, in the long term, like rebuilding the internet in space," Musk said during a speech in Seattle when revealing the project.

SpaceX's satellite internet proposal was announced in January 2015. Though it wasn't given a name at the time, CEO Elon Musk said that the company had filed documents with international regulators to place about 4,000 satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

"We're really talking about something which is, in the long term, like rebuilding the internet in space," Musk said during a speech in Seattle when revealing the project.

Musk's initial estimate of the number of satellites soon grew, as he hoped to capture a part of the estimated $1 trillion worldwide internet connectivity market to help achieve his Mars colonization vision. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted SpaceX permission to fly 12,000 Starlink satellites, and the company has filed paperwork with an international regulator to loft up to 30,000 additional spacecraft.

To put that into perspective, as of Nov. 7, 2022, only 14,450 satellites have been launched in all of history with 6,800 currently active according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

SpaceX launched its first two Starlink test craft, named TinTinA and TinTinB, in February 2018. The mission went smoothly. Based on initial data, the company asked regulators for its fleet to be allowed to operate at lower altitudes than originally planned, and the FCC agreed.

The first 60 Starlink satellites launched on May 23, 2019, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The satellites successfully reached their operational altitude of 340 miles (550 kilometers).

Within days of the first 60-satellite Starlink launch, skywatchers spotted a linear pearl string of lights as the spacecraft whizzed overhead in the early morning. Web-based guides showed others how to track down the spectacular display.

"This was quite an amazing sight, and I was shouting 'Owowowow!' when the bright 'train' of objects entered into view," Netherlands-based satellite tracker Marco Langbroek told Space.com in 2019 via email. "They were brighter than I had anticipated."

That brightness was a surprise to almost everyone, including both SpaceX and the astronomical community. Researchers began to panic and shared photos of satellite streaks in their data, such as this trail image from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona.

They expressed particular concerns about future images from highly sensitive telescopes such as the Vera Rubin Observatory (formerly known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope), which will study the entire universe in exquisite detail and is expected to come online in 2022. Radio astronomers are also planning for interference from Starlink's radio-based antennas.

In photos: SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites to orbit

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) expressed concerns in a statement released in June 2019. "Satellite constellations can pose a significant or debilitating threat to important existing and future astronomical infrastructures, and we urge their designers and deployers as well as policy-makers to work with the astronomical community in a concerted effort to analyze and understand the impact of satellite constellations," the statement said.

In April 2021, Thomas Schildknecht, the deputy director of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern, who represents Switzerland in the IAU, said at the European Space Agency's space debris conference that the union was calling on the United Nations to protect pristine night sky as cultural heritage against the uncontrolled expansion of megaconstellations.

In a report released in October 2022, the American Astronomical Society (ASS) likened the impact of megaconstellations on astronomy to light pollution. The report said the sky may brighten by a factor of two to three due to the diffuse reflection of sunlight off the spacecraft.

Related: Can you see stars in light polluted skies?

We spoke to Meredith Rawls is a stellar astronomer and software developer about the effects of low-Earth orbit satellites on ground-based astronomy. This interview was originally published in our sister magazine All About Space (Issue 119, July 2021).

Meredith Rawls

Dr Meredith Rawls is a stellar astronomer and software developer working as a research scientist with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) group at the University of Washington. As a software developer, Rawls is involved in developing algorithms that can identify objects in telescope data that have changed, and characterize them accordingly. Her work also entails researching how low-Earth orbit satellites affect astronomy and what satellite operator companies can do to reduce their impact on the night sky.

The main thing is there are so many of them that are currently being launched and planned to be launched and they reflect sunlight so they can be really bright. The brightness actually surprised some of the satellite operators, they had not anticipated how bright their satellites were actually going to be. Astronomers were used to sometimes seeing satellites, but now it's an order of magnitude more and they're going to be showing up very commonly in observations from ground-based telescopes.

I tend to be very biased towards the ground-based optical astronomy because that's our human experience with the night sky and they're the main kind of observations that I was trained in as a student. But radio astronomy is maybe even going to be more severely impacted than optical astronomy. It's complicated.

Radio astronomers have been competing for years for a frequency spectrum, they have this national and international relations about who gets what frequencies on the radio spectrum, for example your mobile phone service, your WiFi, any gadget that transmits has to have approval. Radio astronomers have fought long and hard to make their presence known and say "we need this chunk of the spectrum because thats where Hydrogen emits, we can't change that", in the U.S. they go to lobbying meetings to make their voices heard, so there is already a presence of radio astronomers in some of these regulatory spaces.

The issue with growing numbers of low-Earth orbit satellite constellations is that one of the main goals they have is to send down high amounts of data for internet access so they'll be constantly beaming down loud radio signals down to Earth so people can get their internet connection. This is potentially going to cover a large amount of ground.

There are some things that they could do to try and lower the effects on radio astronomy, for example turning off their transmitters when they are over radio telescopes.

But the reality is that if you have located a set of frequencies that you are going to use, physically these waves spill over the edges, you cannot have a sharp cut off, it's just not how waves work. So even with the best intended regulations controlling what frequencies are being used by satellite companies, it is going to have some pretty serious effects on radio astronomy.

Actually that would be worse. It's a little complicated because you could think that maybe a lower orbit satellite would be brighter because it is closer, which is true but the trick is that it moves faster in a lower orbit because it has to not fall out of the sky. That means that when you are taking a picture it will move out of the way faster and the pixels won't linger long enough to make as bright of a streak in the image, which is better.

So I was personally disappointed that OneWeb decided to keep their satellites at a higher altitude, whereas SpaceX have been more willing to keep their satellites at lower altitudes. Though space debris will become an even bigger problem at these lower altitudes as the lower the orbit, the more crowded it gets.

SpaceX received additional backlash in September 2019, when the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it had directed its Aeolus satellite to undertake evasive maneuvers and avoid crashing into "Starlink 44," one of the first 60 satellites in the megaconstellation. The agency took action after learning from the U.S. military that the probability of a collision was 1 in 1,000 10 times higher than ESA's threshold for conducting a collision-avoidance maneuver.

In August 2021, Hugh Lewis, the head of the Astronautics Research Group at the University of Southampton, U.K. and Europe's leading space debris expert, told Space.com that Starlink satellites represent the single main sources of collision risk in low Earth orbit.

According to computer models, at that time, Starlink satellites were involved every week in about 1,600 encounters between two spacecraft closer than 0.6 miles (1 kilometer). That's about 50% of all such incidents. This number rises with every new batch of satellites launched into space. By the time Starlink deploys all 12,000 satellites of its first-generation constellation it could reach 90%, Lewis said.

Lewis also expressed concerns that Starlink's operator SpaceX, a newcomer into the satellite business, is now the single most dominant player in the field whose decisions can affect the safety of all operations in low Earth orbit.

SpaceX plans to refresh the Starlink megaconstellation every five years with newer technology. At the end of their service, the old satellites will be steered into Earth's atmosphere where they will burn up. That is certainly commendable when it comes to space debris prevention, however, there is another problem.

The vast amount of satellites that will be burning in the otherwise pristine upper layers of the atmosphere could alter the atmospheric chemistry and have unforeseen consequences for life on the planet.

In a paper published in May 2021 in the journal Scientific Reports, Canadian researcher Aaron Boley said the aluminum the satellites are made of will produce aluminum oxide, also known as alumina, during burn-up. He warned that alumina is known to cause ozone depletion and could also alter the atmosphere's ability to reflect heat.

"Alumina reflects light at certain wavelengths and if you dump enough alumina into the atmosphere, you are going to create scattering and eventually change the albedo of the planet," Boley told Space.com.

That could lead to an out-of-control geoengineering experiment, a change in the Earth's climate balance. The effects of such alternations are currently unknown.

Karen Rosenlof, an atmospheric chemistry expert at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told Space.com she too was concerned about the effects of the particles from the burning satellites in the atmosphere. Rosenlof has expertise in modeling the effects of geoengineering interventions.

David Fahey, the Director of NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory, and Martin Ross, a physics and meteorology scientist at the Aerospace Corporation, both told Space.com that more research is urgently needed to understand the effects of burning increasing amounts of satellites in the atmosphere.

The problem, the scientists said, is that in those high layers of the atmosphere, the particles are likely going to stay forever. Boley said that while the number of satellites burning in the atmosphere will be considerably smaller than the number of meteorites, the chemical composition of the artificial objects is different, thus the presence of the products of their burning is something scientists know nothing about.

"We have 54 tonnes (60 tons) of meteoroid material coming in every day," Boley said. "With the first generation of Starlink, we can expect about 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) of dead satellites reentering Earth's atmosphere daily. But meteoroids are mostly rock, which is made of oxygen, magnesium and silicon. These satellites are mostly aluminum, which the meteoroids contain only in a very small amount, about 1%."

As the accumulation of those particles would increase over time, so would the intensity of the effects. It thus cannot be ruled out that over decades the pollution from burning megaconstellation satellites could lead to changes on a scale akin to what we are currently experiencing with fossil-fuel-induced climate change.

"Humans are exceptionally good at underestimating our ability to change the environment," said Boley. "There is this perception that there is no way that we can dump enough plastic into the ocean to make a difference. There is no way we can dump enough carbon into the atmosphere to make a difference. But here we are. We have a plastic pollution problem with the ocean, we have climate change ongoing as a result of our actions and our changing of the composition of the atmosphere and we are poised to make the same type of mistake by our use of space."

Starlink did not respond to Space.com requests for comment.

A Starlink satellite's lifespan can also be cut short by powerful geomagnetic storms.

On Feb. 3, 2022, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket made a routine and successful launch of 49 Starlink satellites from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But only a day later, a geomagnetic storm above Earth pushed up the density of the atmosphere, increasing the drag on the satellites and dooming the bulk of them to an early death.

"Preliminary analysis show the increased drag at the low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe mode to begin orbit-raising maneuvers, and up to 40 of the satellites will reenter or already have reentered the Earth's atmosphere," SpaceX wrote in an update on Feb. 8, 2022.

Read more: Better space weather forecast could have saved SpaceX Starlink satellites from solar storm

SpaceX began launching an upgraded version of Starlink, called the V2 mini, onFebruary 27, 2023. The V2 minis serve as a precursor version to the company's full V2 design, whose larger design is intended to launch on SpaceX's yet-operational Starship rocket. In the interim, the V2 minis stand in as a measurable upgrade from Starlink's previous version.

Starlink V2 minis are more robust than the first generation, in both size and capability. According to SpaceX'ssocial media posts, the upgrades includeargon Hall thrustersfor a 2.4x and 1.5x boost in thrust and impulse, respectively, refitted phased array antennas, and E-band backhaul use capabilities that nearly quadruple Starlink's data capacity.

The full version V2 satellites won't launch until SpaceX's Starship is fully operational. When they do, the larger V2 satellites will possess an even higher data capacity than their predecessors, and the ability to provide services direct to cellular devices. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert announced a deal between the two companies in August 2022, and plan to provide the service to T-Mobile customers once Starlink V2 begins to launch.

With the right equipment, access to Starlink internet can be achieved in remote locations within just a few minutes, making it a useful resource in emergencies.

According to a statement on Starlink's official website "Without the bounds of traditional ground infrastructure, Starlink can be deployed in a matter of minutes to support emergency responders in disaster scenarios."

"The Starlink team is proud to support and prioritize service for emergency responders around the globe and will continue to grow this support as our coverage areas expand." The statement continues.

The benefits of Starlink internet service in emergencies have already been demonstrated in Ukraine and Tonga.

Starlink, SpaceX's giant and ever-growing broadband constellation, has been a vital piece of Ukrainian communications infrastructure throughout the ongoing Russian invasion. Ukrainian government officials publicly requested Starlink terminals on Feb. 26, just two days after the invasion began, and the first ones arrived in the country on Feb. 28.

In early April, SpaceX and the U.S. Agency for International Development announced they had jointly delivered about 5,000 Starlink terminals to Ukraine, with SpaceX directly providing more than 3,000 of them. The number has grown considerably since then, to 25,000 or so, according to company founder and CEO Elon Musk.

The situation in Ukraine was not always smooth, as Musk noted in March 2022 that the Starlink terminals have been jammed near Ukraine conflict areas. The company was already working on an upgrade when Musk announced this, and he pledged a further pivot to cyber defense to keep the Starlinks operational.

In February 2022, at least 50 Starlink terminals were sent to the island nation of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. The goal was to give its residents free Internet access, especially in remote villages. Tonga needed the terminals after suffering a massive volcano eruption and tsunami in January. At the time, SpaceX said the terminals will allow for communications to flow in some of the regions with the worst effects due to the eruption according to Reuters.

SpaceX has stated that it will work with organizations and space agencies to mitigate the impacts of its megaconstellation. And the company has tried to assuage astronomers' concerns over Starlink's effect on the night sky.

"SpaceX is absolutely committed to finding a way forward so our Starlink project doesn't impede the value of the research you all are undertaking," Patricia Cooper, SpaceX's vice president of satellite government affairs, told astronomers at a January 2020 meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu, Nature reported.

SpaceX has taken action to this effect. For example, recently launched Starlink satellites sport visors designed to prevent sunlight from glinting too brightly off their most reflective parts.

But the huge numbers of satellites in megaconstellations from SpaceX and other private space companies, such as OneWeb, suggest that light pollution and other issues may continue, and advocates have called for greater regulations from government agencies.

"Here is a gift for the leaders of the world, a task more non-partisan than any other which has come before: protect our skies," stargazer Arwen Rimmer wrote in The Space Review, a weekly online publication devoted to essays and commentary about space, in early 2020.

The current version of each Starlink satellite weighs 573 lbs. (260 kilograms) and is, according to Sky & Telescope magazine, roughly the size of a table.

Rather than sending internet signals through electric cables, which must be physically laid down to reach far-flung places, satellite internet works by beaming information through the vacuum of space, where it travels 47% faster than in fiber-optic cable, Business Insider reported.

Current satellite internet works using large spacecraft that orbit 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above a particular spot on Earth. But at that distance, there are generally significant time delays in sending and receiving data. By being closer to our planet and networking together, Starlink's satellites are meant to carry large amounts of information rapidly to any point on Earth, even over the oceans and in extremely hard-to-reach places where fiber-optic cables would be expensive to lay down.

Users on the ground access the broadband signals using a kit sold by SpaceX. The kit contains a small satellite dish with a mounting tripod, a wifi router, cables and a power supply, according to the company's website.

SpaceX has a dedicated website to order Starlink terminals. Go to the main page of the Starlink website and scroll down to the section that says "Order Now."

After plugging in your service address, you can see whether Starlink is available for your region. While pricing varies by region, a search for an address in Brooklyn in November 2022 gave a hardware price of $599.00, a one-time shipping and handling charge of $50.00, and a monthly service charge of $110.00.

Speeds are said to be much faster for many users in rural regions compared to local options, although again, this varies by region. "Users can expect to see download speeds between 100 Mb/s and 200 Mb/s, and latency as low as 20ms in most locations," the home page states.

Once your box arrives, you should see within it a Starlink kit that will allow you to connect to the Internet. A Starlink app, as well as a website user guide, are meant to guide you through the installation.

Explore Starlink satellites in more detail with this informative video from SpaceX. Read how astrophysicist Ethan Siegel thinks SpaceX can fix the damage Starlink satellites are causing to astronomy, published in Forbes.

NOIRLab, Report of the SATCON2 Workshop: Executive Summary, July 16, 2021 https://noirlab.edu/public/media/archives/techdocs/pdf/techdoc031.pdf

Boley, A., Byers, M. Satellite mega-constellations create risks in Low Earth Orbit, the atmosphere and on Earth, Scientific Reports, 20 May, 2021 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-89909-7

McDowell, J. The Low Earth Orbit Satellite Population and Impacts of the SpaceX Starlink Constellation, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, April 6 2020 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab8016/meta

Massey R. et al. The challenge of satellite megaconstellations, Nature Astronomy, 6 November, 2020 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-01224-9

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Starlink satellites: Facts, tracking and impact on astronomy - Space.com