Event

A number of companies and governments are in various stages of planning or deploying bright satellites in low-Earth orbit in unprecedentedly large numbers. These “mega constellations” will fundamentally change astronomical observing at visible wavelengths.  Night-time images will be contaminated by streaks due to the passage of sun-illuminated satellites, and radio astronomy will experience significant RF interference. If the proposals for the most serious constellations are realized, no combination of mitigations will be able to fully avoid the negative impacts that the over 100,000 LEOsats will have on many science programs of current and planned ground-based astronomy facilities.  I will describe simulations, lab tests, and our work with SpaceX on mitigation.

Zoom link:

https://upenn.zoom.us/j/97729613019?pwd=TUtKU3Z5c1NjSFpLdlk3cHBVQ0VyUT09

Meeting ID: 977 2961 3019

Passcode: 166696