Artist’s concept shows a large satellite constellation in low Earth orbit, with the Low-Frequency Radio Array (LOFAR) telescope below. A new study shows that satellites leaking radio waves might harm radio astronomy. Image via IAU/ Daniëlle Futselaar.
SpaceX satellites leaking radio waves
On July 5, 2023, astronomers from various institutions announced that their new study has detected “unintended electromagnetic radiation” emanating from the onboard electronics of the controversial Starlink satellites. They said this measurable leakage from the satellites – which make up SpaceX’s giant satellite constellations – might already be interfering with the science of radio astronomy.
These scientists were working under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS).
The scientists confirmed the radiation leakage in observations made with the LOFAR telescope, a low-frequency radio array in the Netherlands.
The peer-reviewed journal Astronomy and Astrophysics accepted the study for publication on May 12, 2023.
Pretty proud of my response to this Elon fanboy in a Reddit thread about mega constellation effects on radio astronomy pic.twitter.com/GNZppDoJ5c
For the study, the scientists observed 68 Starlink satellites. While the researchers focused on Starlink satellites because they dominate the category of manmade objects in orbit around Earth, they recognize that there are other large satellite constellations. Their statement said:
The authors expect to detect similar unintended emissions from other low-Earth-orbiting satellites, and further measurement work is already planned focusing on other satellite constellations.
This study represents the latest effort to better understand satellite constellations’ impact on radio astronomy. Previous workshops on Dark and Quiet Skies theorized about this radiation, and our observations confirm it is measurable.
Listening to the sky
Radio astronomers detect faint radio signals from the sky to learn more about dying stars, the black hole at the center of our galaxy, and much more. On Earth, radio astronomers have always had to contend with humanmade radio signals, and, as a result, have often built their telescopes in locations far from interference. In fact, there are even plans to build a radio telescope in a crater on the far side of the moon.
But it’s becoming more clear that Earth-based radio telescopes are facing a growing problem of satellite interference. While all astronomical observatories have to deal with the issue of satellites crossing the field of view of their instruments, radio astronomers say the problem is particularly acute for them.
A satellite’s radio signal is much, much stronger than the faint background sources that radio astronomers study. And a satellite doesn’t have to pass right in front of the object of study to cause interference. Satellite sources in a radio telescope’s “peripheral vision” also interfere.
But there’s more. The astronomers explained:
With many thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, any radio telescope will have many satellites radiating signals in its view at any given time. The expectation has been that the primary source of concern from satellite constellations will be their planned communications transmissions to and from Earth.
Plus, radio telescopes aren’t only looking at dim lights in the night. They’re looking at the sky 24/7. So, satellites are a problem every hour of the day, not just at twilight.
And now they’ve confirmed there’s measurable electromagnetic radiation leaking from satellites.
How to stop satellites leaking radiation
On Earth, laws regulate how much a device’s radiation can interfere with one nearby. But for satellites, this kind of radiation isn’t subject to any international laws. Cees Bassa, a co-author from ASTRON, said:
With LOFAR, we detected radiation between 110 and 188 MHz from 47 out of the 68 satellites that were observed. This frequency range includes a protected band between 150.05 and 153 MHz specifically allocated to radio astronomy by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
So, in space, satellite owners aren’t breaking any laws. But the astronomers said they would like to work with satellite operators and regulators to address this impact. In fact, the astronomers are already working with SpaceX. The spaceflight company has introduced some mitigation devices to their next generation of satellites. Co-author Gyula Józsa of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and Rhodes University said:
We believe that the early recognition of this situation gives astronomy and large constellation operators an opportunity to work together on technical mitigations proactively, in parallel to the necessary discussions to develop suitable regulations.
The future of expanding satellite constellations
According to the IAU Center for the Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies, there are currently 4,276 operational constellation satellites orbiting Earth. While that may sound like a lot, there are 427,171 planned constellation satellites. So the problem will only get worse. Benjamin Winkel from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy said:
Our simulations show that the larger the constellation, the more important this effect becomes as the radiation from all the satellites adds up. This makes us worried not only about the existing constellations but even more about the planned ones … and also about the absence of clear regulation that protects the radio astronomy bands from unintended radiation.
Here’s hoping the budding teamwork between scientists and satellite operators will be a bright step toward darker and quieter skies.
Bottom line: A new study confirms that 68 satellites are leaking radio waves that might harm radio astronomers’ observations of the universe. Astronomers are worried.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The body of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei — who died after being set on fire by her partner in Kenya — was received Friday by family and anti-femicide crusaders, ahead of her burial a day later.
Cheptegei’s family met with dozens of activists Friday who had marched to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s morgue in the western city of Eldoret while chanting anti-femicide slogans.
She is the fourth female athlete to have been killed by her partner in Kenya in yet another case of gender-based violence in recent years.
Viola Cheptoo, the founder of Tirop Angels – an organization that was formed in honor of athlete Agnes Tirop, who was stabbed to death in 2021, said stakeholders need to ensure this is the last death of an athlete due to gender-based violence.
“We are here to say that enough is enough, we are tired of burying our sisters due to GBV,” she said.
It was a somber mood at the morgue as athletes and family members viewed Cheptegei’s body which sustained 80% of burns after she was doused with gasoline by her partner Dickson Ndiema. Ndiema sustained 30% burns on his body and later succumbed.
Ndiema and Cheptegei were said to have quarreled over a piece of land that the athlete bought in Kenya, according to a report filed by the local chief.
Cheptegei competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack. She finished in 44th place.
Cheptegei’s father, Joseph, said that the body will make a brief stop at their home in the Endebess area before proceeding to Bukwo in eastern Uganda for a night vigil and burial on Saturday.
“We are in the final part of giving my daughter the last respect,” a visibly distraught Joseph said.
He told reporters last week that Ndiema was stalking and threatening Cheptegei and the family had informed police.
Four in 10 women or an estimated 41% of dating or married Kenyan women have experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by their current or most recent partner, according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A rare Bronze-Era jar accidentally smashed by a 4-year-old visiting a museum was back on display Wednesday after restoration experts were able to carefully piece the artifact back together.
Last month, a family from northern Israel was visiting the museum when their youngest son tipped over the jar, which smashed into pieces.
Alex Geller, the boy’s father, said his son — the youngest of three — is exceptionally curious, and that the moment he heard the crash, “please let that not be my child” was the first thought that raced through his head.
The jar has been on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa for 35 years. It was one of the only containers of its size and from that period still complete when it was discovered.
The Bronze Age jar is one of many artifacts exhibited out in the open, part of the Hecht Museum’s vision of letting visitors explore history without glass barriers, said Inbal Rivlin, the director of the museum, which is associated with Haifa University in northern Israel.
It was likely used to hold wine or oil, and dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C.
Rivlin and the museum decided to turn the moment, which captured international attention, into a teaching moment, inviting the Geller family back for a special visit and hands-on activity to illustrate the restoration process.
Rivlin added that the incident provided a welcome distraction from the ongoing war in Gaza. “Well, he’s just a kid. So I think that somehow it touches the heart of the people in Israel and around the world,“ said Rivlin.
Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, said the repairs would be fairly simple, as the pieces were from a single, complete jar. Archaeologists often face the more daunting task of sifting through piles of shards from multiple objects and trying to piece them together.
Experts used 3D technology, hi-resolution videos, and special glue to painstakingly reconstruct the large jar.
Less than two weeks after it broke, the jar went back on display at the museum. The gluing process left small hairline cracks, and a few pieces are missing, but the jar’s impressive size remains.
The only noticeable difference in the exhibit was a new sign reading “please don’t touch.”
VICTORIA – The British Columbia government is partnering with a bear welfare group to reduce the number of bears being euthanized in the province.
Nicholas Scapillati, executive director of Grizzly Bear Foundation, said Monday that it comes after months-long discussions with the province on how to protect bears, with the goal to give the animals a “better and second chance at life in the wild.”
Scapillati said what’s exciting about the project is that the government is open to working with outside experts and the public.
“So, they’ll be working through Indigenous knowledge and scientific understanding, bringing in the latest techniques and training expertise from leading experts,” he said in an interview.
B.C. government data show conservation officers destroyed 603 black bears and 23 grizzly bears in 2023, while 154 black bears were killed by officers in the first six months of this year.
Scapillati said the group will publish a report with recommendations by next spring, while an independent oversight committee will be set up to review all bear encounters with conservation officers to provide advice to the government.
Environment Minister George Heyman said in a statement that they are looking for new ways to ensure conservation officers “have the trust of the communities they serve,” and the panel will make recommendations to enhance officer training and improve policies.
Lesley Fox, with the wildlife protection group The Fur-Bearers, said they’ve been calling for such a committee for decades.
“This move demonstrates the government is listening,” said Fox. “I suspect, because of the impending election, their listening skills are potentially a little sharper than they normally are.”
Fox said the partnership came from “a place of long frustration” as provincial conservation officers kill more than 500 black bears every year on average, and the public is “no longer tolerating this kind of approach.”
“I think that the conservation officer service and the B.C. government are aware they need to change, and certainly the public has been asking for it,” said Fox.
Fox said there’s a lot of optimism about the new partnership, but, as with any government, there will likely be a lot of red tape to get through.
“I think speed is going to be important, whether or not the committee has the ability to make change and make change relatively quickly without having to study an issue to death, ” said Fox.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2024.
