Satellites can make up to 80,000 glints per hour. These glints are caused when the flat surfaces of satellites reflect sunlight towards Earth. Most glints only last for tens to hundreds of milliseconds.
The glints are a significant challenge to filter out from astronomical data. They are a tremendous amount of light pollution and will impact the transient studies of the Vera Rubin Observatory and others.
Based on the ZTF data, they estimated that most glints only last on the order of tens to hundreds of milliseconds, and across the sky, there are currently about 80,000 satellite glints per hour. It’s a tremendous amount of light pollution and will impact the transient studies of the Vera Rubin Observatory and others.
It’s a Big Problem for Astronomers. Large-scale sky surveys are set to revolutionize astronomy. Observatories such as Vera Rubin and others will allow astronomers to observe how the sky changes on the scale of days, not weeks or months.
A satellite glint, also known as a satellite flare, is a brief, bright “flare” that’s visible to the naked eye. Satellites are visible because they reflect sunlight. Their shiny surfaces act as mirrors that bounce sunlight back to our eyes.
Satellites are covered in a variety of materials, including aluminum, which is known for its high reflectivity. The shiny surface of aluminum allows satellites to reflect sunlight, making them visible from the ground even during the darkest nights.
Satellites can make up to 80,000 flashing glints per hour. For example, Iridium flares are visible quite often (2–4 times per night). Flares of brightness −5 magnitude occur 3–4 times per week; −8 magnitude may be visible 3–5 times per month for stationary observers.
Satellites suddenly stop being visible when they go into the Earth’s shadow so no sunlight is shining on them
Satellites are usually only visible at the beginning of the night and as morning approaches. This is because the sun’s rays can still reach them high above Earth.
Satellites are small, so their reflected light looks a lot like a star. However, some satellites can be brighter than the most iconic stars visible from Earth. For example, a giant telecommunications spacecraft can be brighter than some stars.
Satellites don’t have their own lights. Instead, they reflect sunlight from their surfaces, such as solar panels and antennas. The artificial light from satellites gives the night sky an additional glow. This glow can make it difficult for astronomers to find and study distant objects in space.
The brightness of a satellite can change as it moves across the sky. Sometimes a satellite will “flare” as it changes orientation relative to the viewer, suddenly increasing in reflectivity
Some satellites are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. For example, the International Space Station (ISS) can be brighter than any star except the sun. The telecommunications satellite BlueWalker 3 can be hundreds of times brighter than the International Astronomical Union’s recommended maximum brightness of magnitude +7.
Satellites are usually visible for a few hours after sunset and before sunrise. They are visible when the sky is dark and the satellite can reflect sunlight back to the observer. These conditions generally occur up to about 45 minutes before sunrise and 45 minutes after sunset.
Satellites can be brighter than magnitude +6.5. For example, the space station can appear as bright as the planet Venus, at magnitude -4.5. BlueWalker 3 started off at magnitude 1, but dropped to magnitude 6 by December 25, 2022. By April 4, 2023, it had brightened again to magnitude 0.4.
Here are some ways to identify satellites at night:
- Look for a single point of light Satellites look like a single point of light that moves quickly across the sky. They are usually white, gray, or reflective.
- Look for a moving star Satellites are sometimes called “artificial moons”. They are visible as they pass overhead hundreds of kilometers away.
- Look away from city lights Satellites are best viewed away from city lights and in cloud-free skies.
- Use a star chart or app You can use a star chart or smartphone app to track satellites. For example, the free app Satellite Tracker can show the exact position of any satellite above the Earth. It can also send notifications when a satellite will be passing over your location.
- Use binoculars You can spot satellites without any instrument, but it helps to have a good pair of binoculars.
The satellites in the sky at night may be Starlink satellites. Starlink satellites are part of a global initiative to provide high-speed internet. They orbit Earth at approximately 342 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth.
Starlink satellites appear in the sky as a string of white lights. They are visible for a short time and can be seen without the help of telescopes or binoculars.
Starlink satellites are part of a megaconstellation. On a clear night, you may be able to catch a glimpse of a few satellites as they crawl across the sky.
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