Even without the sensitivity of the full SKA array, the team detected radio emissions from Starlink that were both intentional and unintentional. In some cases, the emissions were brighter than the brightest sky objects at low frequencies
What can be detected with radio telescopes
Radio telescopes ‘tune in’ to the Universe
Using sophisticated computer programming, they can unravel signals to study the birth and death of stars, the formation of galaxies and the various kinds of matter in the Universe.
This is not the first time that stray radio signals from Starlink have been detected. An earlier study based on LOFAR also found unintended signals from several satellites. As radio observatories continue to become more advanced and more sensitive, dealing with radio light pollution from satellites. That means we will need to make some hard choices about where the balance is between the convenience of satellite internet and the exploration of the radio sky.
Can radio telescopes detect radiation
radio telescope, astronomical instrument consisting of a radio receiver and an antenna system that is used to detect radio-frequency radiation between wavelengths of about 10 metres (30 megahertz [MHz]) and 1 mm (300 gigahertz [GHz]) emitted by extraterrestrial sources, such as stars, galaxies, and quasars
Do radio telescopes detect light
These specially-designed telescopes observe the longest wavelengths of light, ranging from 1 millimeter to over 10 meters long. For comparison, visible light waves are only a few hundred nanometers long, and a nanometer is only 1/10,000th the thickness of a piece of paper
What are the advantages of a radio telescope
Radio astronomy has a few advantages over optical telescopes. For example, radio telescopes can operate day and night, rain or shine. Clouds, rain, and snow do not interfere with the seeing of a radio telescope the way they do with optical telescopes
Are starlink satellites visible
Since they are chains of satellites that orbit together, they appear in the sky as a string of white lights. The Starlink satellites are visible for a short time and can be seen without the help of telescopes or binoculars
What are starlink limits
Does Starlink have data caps? Starlink customers technically get unlimited data. There are no hard data caps for Starlink internet service, meaning Starlink never cuts off your internet connection for spending a lot of time online. But some Starlink plans limit the amount of high-speed data you receive
Does starlink satellites work every where
Starlink offers service in over a million locations worldwide, across all seven continents.
What speed starlink has
Starlink users typically experience download speeds between 25 and 220 Mbps, with a majority of users experiencing speeds over 100 Mbps. Upload speeds are typically between 5 and 20 Mbps.
How many Starlink satellites are there? As of July 2023, there are 4,519Starlink satellites in orbit, of which 4,487 are operational, according to Astronomer Jonathan McDowell who tracks the constellation on his website
What does starlink look like in sky
The Starlink satellites are easiest to identify days after their launch. Once the satellite reaches 340 miles, they disperse and may look like stars in the night sky. Sun shades are then deployed, making it nearly impossible to see with the naked eye
Universe discoveries 