BBC Sky at Night - UK (2021-08)

98 BBC Sky at Night Magazine August 2021

Why do we want to prevent

light pollution?

What people think about

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How do satellites increase

light pollution?

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How much will that alter the naked-eye view?

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Is this a problem for

professional observatories?

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Will space-based observatories be affected?

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What is being done to mitigate the issue?
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Light scattering from satellites and orbital debris could be greatly increasing

background light pollution, affecting astronomical observations

Þ Starlink satellite

trails are caught in a

long exposure shot

taken over London

on 25 April 2020

Q&A WITH A LIGHT POLLUTION EXPERT

Ezzy Pearson interviews Dr John Barentine

Dr John Barentine

is director of

conservation at the

International Dark

Sky Association