The Lowbrows will be meeting at the Detroit Observatory at 7:30pm on Friday, June 16, 2023. Our guest speaker will be Jim Shedlowski, from the Warren Astronomical Society (and a Lowbrow!) and will be speaking about “Orbital Light Pollution”.
The abstract of his talk, published in Physics Today, April 2022 (p28),
Orbital Light Pollution – Abstract
Astronomers…amateurs and professionals…have a common enemy: Light Pollution. To battle this enemy, we have developed strategies and tactics to mitigate its interference with most of our observations, photographs or measurements. We can avoid or control artificial light, shield it, filter it or move to a darker site. We can limit observing to moonless periods.
Unfortunately, in recent years there has begun to develop an insidious new form of light pollution that threatens astronomy as never before. A “growing glow of light” now encircles the earth from the integrated reflections from the more than 6000 or so active and defunct satellites, along with the millions of smaller pieces of space debris still in orbit. The impending explosive growth of LEO satellite constellations will add tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of satellites to exacerbate the concerns for this already measurable effect on our night sky brightness.
This presentation will describe how this current, largely unregulated situation has developed, its impact on astronomy…and its future potential as “an existential threat to astronomy”.
For directions and parking, refer to our Meetings page!
