Study Confirms Dark Coating Can Reduce Satellite Reflectivity
TOKYO (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan PR) — Observations conducted by the Murikabushi Telescope of Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory confirmed that dark coating can reduce satellite reflectivity by half.
There are concerns that numerous artificial satellites in orbit could impair astronomical observations, but these findings may help alleviate such conditions.
Today’s growing demand for space-based services has spawned a wave of satellite constellation projects which operate numerous artificial satellites in orbit. Since these satellites can shine by reflecting sunlight, the astronomy community has raised concerns about their potential impact on astronomical observations.
In January 2020, SpaceX launched “DarkSat,” an experimental satellite with an anti-reflective coating, and asked astronomers to assess how much this coating can reduce the satellite reflectivity. Brightness measurements of artificial satellites have already been conducted, but until now, there was no verification that a dark coating actually achieves the expected reflectivity reduction.
The Murikabushi Telescope of Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory can observe celestial objects simultaneously in three different wavelengths (colors). Comparing multicolor data obtained under the same conditions provides more accurate insight into how much the coating can reduce the satellite brightness.
Observations conducted from April to June 2020 revealed for the first time in the world that artificial satellites, whether coated or not, are more visible at longer wavelengths, and that the black coating can halve the level of surface reflectivity of satellites. Such surface treatment is expected to reduce the negative impacts on astronomical observations. Further measures will continue to be implemented to pave the way for peaceful coexistence between space industries and astronomy.
These results appeared as Horiuchi T. et al. “Simultaneous Multicolor Observations of Starlink’s Darksat by The Murikabushi Telescope with MITSuME” in The Astrophysical Journal on December 7, 2020.
17 responses to “Study Confirms Dark Coating Can Reduce Satellite Reflectivity”
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But the astronomers will still complain about it…
As they should.
Why, is the work of a couple thousand astronomers really so much more important than the hundreds of millions of individuals who need access to the Internet for work and learning? Should those individuals be forced to live in isolation and poverty just so a few academics will be able to publish papers that have virtually no impact on the lives of the average person? Sorry, but by every ethical measure the astronomers are in the wrong here, just as when they took the sacred mountains away from indigenous people for their observatories.
I think much of this comes down to the “I was here first” argument, a form of NIMBYism. I see it in many more arenas than spaceflight. Nuclear power, zoning restrictions, protectionism, etc…
Yes, astronomers will just have to learn to share space with the rest of the world. They also need to start respecting the rights of other cultures and to really work on diversity in their field.
Because they’re doing real science while you are just pushing capitalism, and a particularly dirty version of it at that. Musk could have accomplished the same thing with a much smaller string of large satellites in geosynchronous orbit – but that would have cost too much. Better to contribute to the space junkpile so you can push really expensive internet to portions of the world not willing to build their own networks.
Actually, no. Geosynch has too high latency. Also need to check your cost claims. Expensive is quite relative, especially when the alternative is to do without.
Also with the SpaceX launch systems the cost of a few satellites in Geosynchronous Orbit would be a lot less. But as you note the latency is a problem. It is also why mining firms and shipping lines will be early adopters of his services.
True, if it was a socialist project the astronomers wouldn’t complain, they would know that labor camps would be waiting for those who do. ?
As for “Real Science”, exactly what science, other than making calendars, do astronomers do that benefits the average worker? As Sherlock Holmes noted to Dr. Watson the knowledge that the Earth orbits the Sun contributes nothing to solving a criminal case and clutters up the mind. – A Study in Scarlet.
“real science” is dealing with some noise in the data like marine biologists do, they don’t demand no one use the oceans. Instead we get pseudo-religious screeds about the beauty of their photos and the spoiling of sacred space. In large part these are atheists who just filled a void in themselves with the cosmos. Pretty silly really.
And “just capitalism” has pulled more people out of a dirt poor, short and miserable existence than any other idea in human history.
Lastly, if you knew anything at all about the economics and impact of rolling fiber to rural US locations, not to mention other parts of the world, you would would laugh at such a statement.
One example folks are not thinking about how Starlink will change the world would be making pirate proof cargo ships (162 were attacked in 2019). With reliable high speed bandwidth most cargo ships could be tele-operated away from ports with temp crews put on with the harbor pilots for docking. No crew means no hostages for pirates to hold for money. Plus you could put systems in that would make it very “unpleasant” for any pirates who come on board to hijack the ship.
I.e., RoboCop goes to sea.
Nah, for the most part whining marxist b!tche$
Hey, what about feelings!?! Huh? What about that!?
They should of banded together & pushed for a Radiotelescope on the far side of the Moon, with accompanying Facilities both above & below ground! How could you go wrong haggling rather then complaining?
“Study confirms physics discovered by Newton”
Good. As a telescope owner/user, as a fan and consumer of astronomical knowledge, as a former space science major and also as someone who just enjoys casually looking up and taking in the beauty of the natural sky, I applaud SpaceX’s effort to reduce the visual impact of their constellation and the apparent measure of success of those efforts as documented here.
Great to hear