Satellite plague in Brittheim: Astronomers fight for light pollution!

Satellite plague in Brittheim: Astronomers fight for light pollution!

In the small community of Brittheim, where the stars usually sparkle undisturbed, there is a growing problem: the Starlink satellites by Elon Musk. These “fairy lights” in the sky are not only a fascinating sight, but also a serious threat to the astronomical observations of the observatory Zollern-Alb. Rolf Bitzer, the chairman of the observatory, describes the situation as a “satellite plague”, which significantly disturbs the measurements and photos of the astronomers. According to a report by Black Forest Messenger are already over 7000 Starlink satellite in orbit, and the number could increase to over 34,000. This makes it almost impossible for astronomers to carry out their observations precisely.

The problems are varied. Bitzer shows impressive photos that illustrate the disorders: As with a white pen, the satellites draw lines through the pictures of galaxies. These strokes affect the brightness measurements of planets and stars because they overlap the comparative -levels. "If one of these stars is crossed by a satellite beam, the measurement is unusable," explains Bitzer. This is not just a local problem, but also affects astronomers worldwide.

The challenges of modern astronomy

The Starlink satellites are not only bright, they also reflect light, which makes them particularly visible at dusk. The international space agency ESA reports that there are currently around 13,230 satellites in the earth orbit, of which around 10,200 are active. SpaceX plans to drastically increase the number of its Starlink satellites, which could further tighten the situation. Other companies, such as Amazon, also have similar plans for which the number of satellites will continue to drive up.

The solution that SpaceX 2020 promised was to paint the satellites black to reduce the light reflection. But Bitzer is skeptical: "You can see the remote control well despite its black coat of paint, right?" The brightness of the satellites has decreased, but they are still visible for the sensitive measuring devices of the observatory.

A look into the future

The astronomers have to adapt to the new reality. Software solutions enable the disturbing satellite lines from the pictures, and in the future artificial intelligence could help to cope with this task. Nevertheless, this remains an additional step and changes the recordings.

The challenges resulting from the increasing number of satellites are not just technical in nature. You also raise questions about security and place in orbit. ESA boss Josef Aschbacher warns of the risks of collisions that could have catastrophic consequences. The astronomers in Brittheim not only have to deal with the "satellite plague", but also with the potential dangers that the future of space brings with it, as is also noted on the website of the Sternwart Zollern-Alb.

The situation in Brittheim is an urgent wake -up call for astronomy and space travel. The stars that once shone undisturbed are now overlaid by a new type of light, and the astronomers have to adapt to continue to be able to take a look at the infinite expanses of the universe.