Astronomy in the Era of Satellite Mega-constellations

Most astronomers know that we are on the brink of an era of satellite mega-constellations, with up to 100,000 spacecraft in low Earth-orbit by the end of the decade. This unprecedented crowding of orbital space is driven by the demand for low-latency global Internet and cheaper launches. The threat to professional astronomical observations is well documented and has led to the foundation of an International Astronomical Union Centre addressing the issue, but other affected communities include amateur astronomers, the interested general public and those with a cultural investment in the sky. The news is not all bad, however, and this overview by Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large outlines some of the opportunities that mega-constellations bring to astronomical societies and astronomy communicators.

Professor Fred Watson

Professor Fred Watson AM has been the Australian Government’s Astronomer-at-Large since 2018. He worked at both of Britain’s Royal Observatories before joining the Australian Astronomical Observatory as Astronomer-in-Charge in 1995. He is best known today for his award-winning radio and TV broadcasts, books, music, dark-sky advocacy and co-hosting the popular Space Nuts podcast. Fred has an asteroid named after him (5691 Fredwatson), but says that if it hits the Earth, it won't be his fault. His latest book is Spacewarp – Colliding Comets and Other Cosmic Catastrophes, aimed at the 10+ age group.