science π°οΈ Satellite boom is messing with stargazing π
Expanding satellite constellations are threatening astronomical observations by obscuring views of space. The European Southern Observatory warned that launching over 1.7 million extra satellites could impact science. Currently, there are about 15,000 satellites, and simulations show thousands of trails cutting through images. While 100,000 satellites might be manageable, 300,000 could cause significant data loss for telescopes. ESO suggests keeping satellites under 100,000 to maintain current levels of scientific data collection.