Critics warned that a newly-launched satellite would become one of the best objects in the sky.
The IAU called out the BlueWalker 3 satellite for being one of the brighter things in the sky and obstructing observational tools on Earth.
The prototype is the largest commercial satellite antenna system in the world at 64 square meters and was released in September.
The BlueWalker 3 is the largest commercial communications array ever to be launched into space, and with it comes serious issues on the astronomy side of things.
Astronomers warned around the time of BlueWalker 3's launch that it was not only going to potentially obstruct Earthbound observational tools with its brightness, but that it would also be contributing to the increasing problem of satellite and space junk proliferation in low-Earthorbit as these crafts and their ensuing
They're going to double down on those warnings.
Piero Benvenuti, the director of IAU's Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, said in the release that BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue.
The IAU is concerned about the interference with astronomy that next- generation communication satellites could cause.
It's worthwhile to try to limit the damage we do to it in hopes that we won't completely gum up the works.
Climate change is doing strange things to satellites.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
