#darkskies — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #darkskies, aggregated by home.social.
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Tomorrow is Day 1 of the Light Pollution: Theory, Modeling and Measurement (LPTMM) 2026 meeting in Ensenada, Mexico. Sadly this time I won't be able to join the crew in person, but I'll be listening in from home via the series of tubes known as the Interwebz.
On Friday, I'm excited to (remotely) moderate a roundtable discussion, the anticipated outcome of which is a consensus that it's time to take meaningful next steps toward standardizing measurement methods, reporting and units in light pollution studies.
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Pope Leo XIV today lamented light pollution, telling Vatican Observatory Foundation Board members "we have filled our skies with man-made light that blinds us to the lights God has placed there", evoking the words of his immediate predecessor.
Transcript: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/speeches/2026/may/documents/20260511-vof.html
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New research shows our planet’s night is more volatile than ever.
A decade of satellite data reveals that while some areas are dimming due to policy changes or crisis, others are brightening at a rate that keeps the global average of light pollution rising by 2% annually.
It’s time to move from studying the glow to taking action. Read more: https://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/decoding-a-decade-of-rising-global-light-pollution
#DarkSkies #LightPollution #Science #Environment #NatureRestoration
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Dark Skies hacía lo mismo que Expediente X pero nadie la recuerda: ovnis, abducciones y gobiernos mintiendo a todo el mundo, ambientado en plena Guerra Fría. Una serie de los noventa que se perdió injustamente. 👽📡 #DarkSkies #CienciaFicción #SeriesClásicas
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This legislation, if signed into law by the U.S. President, will have a direct and harmful effect on conditions at a designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary.
The news item: https://apnews.com/article/mining-moratorium-boundary-waters-senate-vote-3e3f0827d52dd6d37f5e554b804ff27c
The legislation: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-joint-resolution/140
The Sanctuary: https://darksky.org/places/boundary-waters-canoe-area-dark-sky-sanctuary/
The world is watching.
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Losing the Dark - Flat Screen Version
"Starry skies are a vanishing treasure because light pollution is washing away our view of the cosmos. It not only threatens astronomy, it disrupts wildlife, and affects human health. The yellow glows over cities and towns — seen so clearly from space — are testament to the billions spent in wasted energy from lighting up the sky.
"To help raise public awareness of some of the issues pertaining to light pollution, Loch Ness Productions in collaboration with the International #DarkSky Association has created a 6.5-minute 'public service announcement' called Losing the Dark. It introduces and illustrates some of the issues regarding #LightPollution, and suggests three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it.
"Losing the Dark was initially created in fulldome video format for digital planetarium use. It also has been made as a conventional flat screen video, for use in classrooms, kiosks, museum theaters, and advocate multimedia presentations. Classic #planetarium theaters without fulldome capability can show this version using their traditional video projectors."
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#PortlandME - At the #USM #Planetarium.
Cycle/Losing the Dark
"Starry skies are a vanishing treasure because light pollution is washing away our view of the cosmos. It not only threatens #astronomy, it disrupts #wildlife, and affects human health. The yellow glows over cities and towns — seen so clearly from space — are testament to the billions spent in wasted energy from lighting up the sky."
Price: $9 - $9.50
Dates:
April 16, 1pm - 2pm
April 17, 1pm - 2pm
April 17, 7pm - 8pm
April 18, 1pm - 2pmhttps://usm.maine.edu/calendar-of-events/series/cycle-losing-the-dark/
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It’s International Dark Sky Week (April 13-20, 2026), an annual event held each April during the week of the new moon to celebrate the wonder and importance of the night and raise awareness about the harmful effects of #LightPollution
From the darkness that supports critical wildlife ecosystems to the star-filled skies we enjoy, the night is filled with wonder and importance.
This year’s theme invites people to discover the night by making an active choice: to “go dark” and experience natural darkness firsthand.
More information at the event’s website: https://idsw.darksky.org
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This week is International Dark Sky Week! Get out and enjoy dark skies sometime this week, and learn more about why it's important here:
https://www.backroadsbear.com/2026/04/13/international-dark-sky-week/
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God said: Let the dark be dark.
Let the stars shine properly.
And let darkness with no stars
heal the damage caused by light…—Robin Fulton Macpherson, “In the Dark”
Today, 13 April, is the start of International Dark Sky Week
#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #DarkSkies #DarkSky #astronomy #InternationalDarkSkyWeek
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New today in @Nature: "Our findings challenge the prevailing perspective that changes in light radiance are largely gradual and unidirectional. Instead, the nightlights of Earth are surprisingly dynamic."
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10260-w
And some reporting on the study and its implications by @skyandtelescope: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/light-pollution-is-increasingly-volatile-around-the-world/
#LightPollution #ALAN #ArtificialLightAtNight #RemoteSensing #DarkSkies #NighttimeLights
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“Satellite #megaconstellations operated by developed countries are affecting the pristine night skies of other nations, affecting astronomical observations and #Indigenous practices. International regulation that includes the views of Indigenous peoples and appropriate compensation are called for.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-026-02810-z -
The global dark-sky movement has hit a hardware ceiling. Shielding works, but it doesn't control how much light we generate. Adaptive lighting is an underutilized means of reducing light pollution. Can #AI encourage its uptake?
The "#LED Paradox" explains why cheap energy efficiency has led to over-illumination. We need to shift from hardware solutions to software and behavioral solutions. AI-driven predictive grids might finally remove the friction from adaptive lighting management.
Read more: https://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/ai-and-the-future-of-smart-lighting
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Today CSE filed our Reply Comment with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission challenging Reflect Orbital's application to commercialize the night sky. We maintain that the FCC must uphold legal mandates by requiring a comprehensive environmental review before granting any authority that alters our shared nighttime environment.
Read our full filing here: https://www.spaceenvironmentalism.org/actions/public-statements-and-comments/reflect-orbital-reply-comment-2026
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Get ready to witness the magic of the night sky in Europe's best stargazing spots 🌃💫! From Portugal to Slovakia, explore 13 dark sky locations where the Milky Way shines bright to the naked eye 🌠.
#Europe #Travel #Stargazing #DarkSkies #MilkyWay #NightSky #Astronomy #EuropeanAdventures
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Dreaming of starry nights? ✨ Discover 13 dark sky gems across Europe where the Milky Way shines bright! From Portugal to Slovakia, find your perfect celestial escape. Did you know some spots boast over 270 clear nights a year? 🤯
#Stargazing #Europe #DarkSkies -
I BUILD OBSERVATORIES FOR A LIVING
Built a dome, aligned the universe
#Astrophotography #Astronomy #RemoteAstrophotography #Space #Telescope #DarkSkies #Science #TechExperiment #Observatory #SpaceTech #astropunk
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I BUILD OBSERVATORIES FOR A LIVING
Built a dome, aligned the universe
#Astrophotography #Astronomy #RemoteAstrophotography #Space #Telescope #DarkSkies #Science #TechExperiment #Observatory #SpaceTech #astropunk
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I BUILD OBSERVATORIES FOR A LIVING
Built a dome, aligned the universe
#Astrophotography #Astronomy #RemoteAstrophotography #Space #Telescope #DarkSkies #Science #TechExperiment #Observatory #SpaceTech #astropunk
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I BUILD OBSERVATORIES FOR A LIVING
Built a dome, aligned the universe
#Astrophotography #Astronomy #RemoteAstrophotography #Space #Telescope #DarkSkies #Science #TechExperiment #Observatory #SpaceTech #astropunk
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A lovely day of #astronomy talks at the local school (as our usual spot, Kielder Castle, is being refurbished) and now sitting with friends in the warm room having drinks and swapping stories while the Seestar does its imaging for me. There’s a great community around astro and starcamps ✨
#KielderStarcamp #stargazing #DarkSkies -
Lovely evening sky view from Kielder Starcamp. The tiniest sliver of a crescent moon is peeking out between the trees on the campsite. We saw a few planets earlier, and the sky is clearing up a bit so we should get some observing in as it gets dark tonight ✨ Super slow connection won’t let me attach an image yet…
#starcamp #stargazing #astro #moon #northumberland #DarkSkies -
@RaymondPierreL3
You know what, there are worse things than being an “ island plunged into darkness under a total power blackout” at night. In some areas of the world, people pay good money to experience actual ‘darkness’; some areas have guaranteed ‘Dark Skies’ enshrined in their local power politics.
Personally, some of the most magical experiences of my life have been under the darkness of a night sky.
I hope Cuba can pull together enough hi- lo- alternate-tech to generate the power to run whatever they need to run & I hope Thump explodes under the force of his own lies, gasbagging & gaslighting.#Cuba #darkness #DarkSkies #energy #renewableEnergy #USPol #gasbagging #gaslighting
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@esoastronomy Tagging @sundogplanets in this thread.
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There really is no idea too stupid for private equity out there...as long as there is a white dude pitching it they will throw money at it hand over fist.
This is the WORST idea...ever. Giant #SpaceMirrors redirecting sunlight and disrupting your sleep. #DarkSkies
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#FCC Deciding Whether to Allow Startup to Launch Huge #MirrorSatellite to Blast Sunlight on Cities at Nighttime
"The implications for #wildlife, for all life, are enormous."
By Frank Landymore
Published Mar 10, 2026Excerpt: "The idea is as far-fetched as it is controversial. But something like it has been attempted before. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya, or 'Banner,' deployed a 65-foot-wide sheet of mylar that reflected a beam of light twice as bright as the Moon, illuminating a roughly three mile wide circle onto the Earth below like an orbital spotlight. It didn’t prove to be practical, however, with ground observers noticing no more than a flash of light, and it was exorbitantly expensive to pull off.
"Even so, it has the potential to massively disrupt the environment and interfere with many human operations. And the far-reaching consequences of such a technology is exposing the limits of the FCC’s remit.
"Experts fear that light from space mirrors could disrupt circadian rhythms in nature, posing a problem for flora and fauna alike. Animals might breed at the wrong time, and hibernating insects and migrating birds could be confused, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a research professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University, told the NYT. And plants could bloom when pollinators aren’t active.
" 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous,' added Vitaterna, who is co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology."
Read more:
https://futurism.com/space/fcc-huge-mirror-satellite#DarkSkies #LightPollution #BadIdea #USPol #Idiocracy #MirrorSatellites #CircadianRhythms
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#FCC Deciding Whether to Allow Startup to Launch Huge #MirrorSatellite to Blast Sunlight on Cities at Nighttime
"The implications for #wildlife, for all life, are enormous."
By Frank Landymore
Published Mar 10, 2026Excerpt: "The idea is as far-fetched as it is controversial. But something like it has been attempted before. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya, or 'Banner,' deployed a 65-foot-wide sheet of mylar that reflected a beam of light twice as bright as the Moon, illuminating a roughly three mile wide circle onto the Earth below like an orbital spotlight. It didn’t prove to be practical, however, with ground observers noticing no more than a flash of light, and it was exorbitantly expensive to pull off.
"Even so, it has the potential to massively disrupt the environment and interfere with many human operations. And the far-reaching consequences of such a technology is exposing the limits of the FCC’s remit.
"Experts fear that light from space mirrors could disrupt circadian rhythms in nature, posing a problem for flora and fauna alike. Animals might breed at the wrong time, and hibernating insects and migrating birds could be confused, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a research professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University, told the NYT. And plants could bloom when pollinators aren’t active.
" 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous,' added Vitaterna, who is co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology."
Read more:
https://futurism.com/space/fcc-huge-mirror-satellite#DarkSkies #LightPollution #BadIdea #USPol #Idiocracy #MirrorSatellites #CircadianRhythms
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#FCC Deciding Whether to Allow Startup to Launch Huge #MirrorSatellite to Blast Sunlight on Cities at Nighttime
"The implications for #wildlife, for all life, are enormous."
By Frank Landymore
Published Mar 10, 2026Excerpt: "The idea is as far-fetched as it is controversial. But something like it has been attempted before. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya, or 'Banner,' deployed a 65-foot-wide sheet of mylar that reflected a beam of light twice as bright as the Moon, illuminating a roughly three mile wide circle onto the Earth below like an orbital spotlight. It didn’t prove to be practical, however, with ground observers noticing no more than a flash of light, and it was exorbitantly expensive to pull off.
"Even so, it has the potential to massively disrupt the environment and interfere with many human operations. And the far-reaching consequences of such a technology is exposing the limits of the FCC’s remit.
"Experts fear that light from space mirrors could disrupt circadian rhythms in nature, posing a problem for flora and fauna alike. Animals might breed at the wrong time, and hibernating insects and migrating birds could be confused, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a research professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University, told the NYT. And plants could bloom when pollinators aren’t active.
" 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous,' added Vitaterna, who is co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology."
Read more:
https://futurism.com/space/fcc-huge-mirror-satellite#DarkSkies #LightPollution #BadIdea #USPol #Idiocracy #MirrorSatellites #CircadianRhythms
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#FCC Deciding Whether to Allow Startup to Launch Huge #MirrorSatellite to Blast Sunlight on Cities at Nighttime
"The implications for #wildlife, for all life, are enormous."
By Frank Landymore
Published Mar 10, 2026Excerpt: "The idea is as far-fetched as it is controversial. But something like it has been attempted before. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya, or 'Banner,' deployed a 65-foot-wide sheet of mylar that reflected a beam of light twice as bright as the Moon, illuminating a roughly three mile wide circle onto the Earth below like an orbital spotlight. It didn’t prove to be practical, however, with ground observers noticing no more than a flash of light, and it was exorbitantly expensive to pull off.
"Even so, it has the potential to massively disrupt the environment and interfere with many human operations. And the far-reaching consequences of such a technology is exposing the limits of the FCC’s remit.
"Experts fear that light from space mirrors could disrupt circadian rhythms in nature, posing a problem for flora and fauna alike. Animals might breed at the wrong time, and hibernating insects and migrating birds could be confused, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a research professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University, told the NYT. And plants could bloom when pollinators aren’t active.
" 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous,' added Vitaterna, who is co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology."
Read more:
https://futurism.com/space/fcc-huge-mirror-satellite#DarkSkies #LightPollution #BadIdea #USPol #Idiocracy #MirrorSatellites #CircadianRhythms
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#FCC Deciding Whether to Allow Startup to Launch Huge #MirrorSatellite to Blast Sunlight on Cities at Nighttime
"The implications for #wildlife, for all life, are enormous."
By Frank Landymore
Published Mar 10, 2026Excerpt: "The idea is as far-fetched as it is controversial. But something like it has been attempted before. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya, or 'Banner,' deployed a 65-foot-wide sheet of mylar that reflected a beam of light twice as bright as the Moon, illuminating a roughly three mile wide circle onto the Earth below like an orbital spotlight. It didn’t prove to be practical, however, with ground observers noticing no more than a flash of light, and it was exorbitantly expensive to pull off.
"Even so, it has the potential to massively disrupt the environment and interfere with many human operations. And the far-reaching consequences of such a technology is exposing the limits of the FCC’s remit.
"Experts fear that light from space mirrors could disrupt circadian rhythms in nature, posing a problem for flora and fauna alike. Animals might breed at the wrong time, and hibernating insects and migrating birds could be confused, Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a research professor of neurobiology at Northwestern University, told the NYT. And plants could bloom when pollinators aren’t active.
" 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous,' added Vitaterna, who is co-director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology."
Read more:
https://futurism.com/space/fcc-huge-mirror-satellite#DarkSkies #LightPollution #BadIdea #USPol #Idiocracy #MirrorSatellites #CircadianRhythms
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RE: https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/116161149603554205
READ
❝ There are over 600 comments submitted on Reflect Orbital's filing ❞
AS
❝ There are over 600 comments submitted on Rectal Orbiting filing ❞
and you did too.
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Can we have vibrant cities AND #DarkSkies? Lighting designer Vellachi Ganesan shares how precision optics and smart tech are revolutionary advancements for creating better outdoor spaces and protecting the night sky.
http://www.darkskyconsulting.com/blog/vellachi-ganesan-interview-mar2026
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"'All you need is a chair and a view': could daily 'dusking' make us healthier and happier?
An old Dutch ritual of going outside to watch the coming of night – or dusking – is having a revival across Europe. Fans of the practice say it’s a great way to disconnect from screens and find peace"
by Rachel Dixon
Sun 1 Mar 2026 00.00 EST -
“‘Starstruck’ is set in the fictitious Idaho mountain town Sawtooth, where Malone’s character, a park ranger and amateur astronomer named Cyd DeBerg, is trying to establish a Dark Sky Reserve, where lights are banned at night to allow for stargazing. Idaho is home to America’s first designated Dark Sky Reserve, established in 2017, giving the musical real-world grounding.” (h/t @imherzen)
https://whyy.org/articles/starstruck-bucks-county-playhouse-emily-saliers-indigo-girls/
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"[T]he presence of [artificial light at night] can disrupt the proper functioning of not only humans but all organisms on Earth that have evolved in conditions of alternating day and night. Cities are the primary source of LP, and the ever-increasing global urbanization makes LP one of the fastest-growing threats to our civilization. It is particularly dangerous because public awareness of its existence is exceptionally weak."
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This #SpaceX Situation: Not Good!
by Jason Koebler, Feb 5, 2026
Excerpt: "There are many reasons that 'AI data centers in space' may be a pipe dream and may not happen, but what he is proposing is a magnitude of #SpaceJunk that no other company could plausibly promise to launch. Data centers or not, SpaceX is now dominating #LowEarthOrbit in a way no other company or country has. While Musk has been gutting the federal government, interfering in #elections, allowing people to generate #CSAM, engaging in white supremacy, planning trips to #EpsteinsIsland, implanting #chips into people’s brains, siphoning off taxpayer money to build ridiculous tunnels, giving his sperm to whoever will take it, turning his cars into experimental robot taxis, and pretending to build #HumanoidRobots, #SpaceX has somewhat (?) quietly #colonized and dominated low earth orbit.
"Musk has taken this space for his own use, concerns about #LightPollution, satellite collisions, and telecom #monopolies be damned. This has always been concerning, but explicitly intertwining the aspirations and fate of SpaceX with Musk’s CSAM generating social media website, his #AIBullshitMachines, and his right wing political project is horrifying and monopolistic. What happens next, I have no idea."
Read more:
https://www.404media.co/this-spacex-situation-not-goodArchived version:
https://archive.ph/vUubi#TechBros #Technopoly #DarkSkies #SpacePollution #AISucks #DataCenters #SkyNet #KesslerEffect #KesslerSyndrome #USPol #WorldPol #SpaceNews #EpsteinFiles
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It's like #ElonMusk wants there to be a #KesslerEffect! Hard to launch a space program if we can't leave Earth!
#SpaceX seeks go-ahead from the #FCC to put up to a million #DataCenter satellites in orbit
by Alan Boyle on Jan 31, 2026
Excerpt: "SpaceX founder Elon Musk wasn’t kidding about his plans to go big with orbital data centers: The company is asking the Federal Communications Commission to approve a plan to put up to a million satellites in orbit to process data for artificial intelligence applications.
" 'Launching a constellation of a million satellites that operate as orbital data centers is a first step towards becoming a #Kardashev II-level civilization — one that can harness the sun’s full power — while supporting #AI-driven applications for billions of people today and ensuring humanity’s #multiplanetary future amongst the stars,' SpaceX said in an application filed with the FCC on Friday."
Read more:
https://www.geekwire.com/2026/spacex-fcc-million-data-center-satellites/#AISatellites #SkyNet #DarkSkies #Starlink #LowEarthOrbit #LEO #KesslerSyndrome #SolarFlares #Grounded
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Celebrating the Dark Skies of the South Downs National Park
By South Downs National Park Authority
Feb 13 from 6pm to 9pm GMT
Memorial Hall, South Downs Centre.
Talks, plus "cake and refreshments and stargazing through telescopes (weather permitting)."
Free tickets:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-the-dark-skies-of-the-south-downs-national-park-tickets-1980560703379?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl#SolarPunkSunday #Astronomy #SouthDownsNationalPark #DarkSkies #SouthDowns
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#SpaceX gets #FCC approval to launch 7,500 more #Starlink #satellites😱
by Anthony Ha
Sat, January 10, 2026Excerpt: "The Federal Communications Commission announced Friday that it has given SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 of its second-generation Starlink satellites, for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide.
"Beyond simply allowing SpaceX to launch more satellites and expand its high-speed internet coverage, the FCC says its decision also means Starlink satellites can operate across five frequencies to provide direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States, along with supplemental coverage in the U.S.
"Reuters reports that SpaceX had requested approval for an additional 15,000 satellites, but the FCC said it would 'defer authorization of the remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 Starlink satellites.'
"SpaceX must launch 50% of the approved Starlink satellites by December 1, 2028, and the remaining 50% by December 2031, the FCC says."
Read more:
https://tech.yahoo.com/science/articles/spacex-gets-fcc-approval-launch-221121996.html#KesslerSyndrome #SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution -
This will guarantee #KesslerSyndrome sooner than later!😱
As #SpaceX Works Toward 50K #Starlink Satellites, #China Eyes Deploying 200K
China's Institute of Radio Spectrum Utilization and Technological Innovation submits filings for two constellations, each of which could support 96,714 satellites, for a total of 193,428.
Michael Kan, January 12, 2026
Excerpt: "To counter China, the FCC has been expediting and streamlining its satellite approvals. This includes clearing SpaceX to operate another 7,500 satellites for its second-generation constellation. The regulator has also approved plans to operate Starlink satellites at lower orbits, from 340km to 485km. Currently, Starlink has over 9,400 orbiting satellites."
#SpaceDebris #KesslerEffect #LEO
#DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution -
Oh great, more companies competing to hasten #KesslerSyndrome !
#Starlink-rival Eutelsat signs deal with Europe's #MaiaSpace to launch satellites
By Gianluca Lo Nostro
Fri, January 16, 2026 at 7:11 AM EST"#Eutelsat, which acquired OneWeb in 2023, plans to launch 440 Airbus-built #LEO #satellites in the coming years to replenish and expand its constellation."
Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/starlink-rival-eutelsat-signs-deal-121115488.html#LEO #LowEarthOrbit #SpaceJunk #Satellites #KesslerEffect #DarkSkies #SpaceTrash
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Well, I think this is a hyperbole -- there will still be coax (axe/coax?) and fiber and good ol' landlines. Of course, #ElonMusk is trying to cut subsidies to those projects to divert money to #Starlink access!
#KesslerSyndrome: Space debris may create a future with no internet, TV, or mobile phone
By Quamrul Haider, 19 January 2025
Excerpt: "If, indeed, satellites collide or go offline because of overcrowded LEO, critical services like internet, navigation (GPS), weather forecasts, cell phones, television and other space-based technologies could fail. Needless to say, this will cause widespread disruption to modern life. Imagine life without social media!"
#KesslerEffect #Starlink #LEO #DarkSkies #Satellites #SpaceTrash #Landlines #SpacePollution
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Texas Standard broadcast from McDonald Observatory, highlighting Texas’ dark‑sky efforts, homeschool astronomy, StarDate’s legacy, and new research into dark energy. A look at how Texans reached for the cosmos.
https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/today-on-texas-standard-december-12-2025/
🎧 #TexasStandard #McDonaldObservatory #DarkSkies #Astronomy #UTexas #TexasScience #SpaceResearch -
Record #SolarSuperstorm shrank Earth’s plasma shield 78%, #GPS at risk
Story by Alexander Clark, 12/1/2025
Excerpt: "Why this storm is a warning shot for the #SatelliteEconomy
"Even without a total collapse of the magnetosphere, the recent superstorm delivered a clear warning to the satellite industry. Constellations in low Earth orbit [#LEO], such as #SpaceX’s #Starlink or #OneWeb, already have to contend with atmospheric drag and radiation, but they usually operate well inside the magnetosphere’s protection. When the plasma shield shrinks, those satellites face a double challenge: increased drag from a heated upper atmosphere and a more hostile radiation environment that can degrade electronics and solar panels. The event that compressed Earth’s shield by nearly 80 percent effectively stress-tested the assumptions behind the rapid expansion of commercial space infrastructure, a point underscored in analyses of how a solar storm can threaten satellites when the magnetosphere is squeezed.
"For operators of navigation, communications, and Earth observation satellites in higher orbits, the implications are even more direct. Many of these spacecraft were designed based on historical records of geomagnetic storms that did not include such extreme compression of the magnetosphere, which means their shielding, redundancy, and fault management systems may not fully account for the conditions seen in this event. As I look at the trajectory of the satellite economy, with thousands of new platforms planned for launch in the coming years, the lesson is clear: space weather resilience can no longer be treated as a niche concern. It has to be built into hardware design, constellation architecture, and operational playbooks from the start, or the next superstorm could turn a profitable orbital network into a liability overnight.
"Preparing for the next superstorm in a crowded sky
"The recent compression of Earth’s plasma shield did not trigger the kind of global blackout or navigation collapse that worst-case scenarios envision, but it came close enough to expose the seams in current preparedness. Space weather forecasting has improved, yet the lead times and confidence levels are still limited, especially for the most extreme events. To protect GPS, power grids, and other critical systems, operators need not just alerts that a storm is coming but actionable guidance on how severe the magnetospheric compression is likely to be, which orbits will be most exposed, and how long the elevated risk will last, insights that depend on the kind of multi-satellite observations and modeling showcased in the reconstruction of this storm.
"As I weigh the evidence, the path forward looks less like a single technological fix and more like a layered strategy. That means hardening satellites and ground infrastructure against radiation and induced currents, building redundancy into navigation and timing systems so that GPS is not a single point of failure, and integrating space weather scenarios into everything from grid planning to aviation routing. It also means improving public communication so that when the next superstorm hits, people understand both the seriousness of a 78 percent shrinkage of Earth’s plasma shield and the practical steps being taken to manage the risk. The recent event was a vivid reminder that our digital civilization is built inside a magnetic cocoon that can flex and falter, and that planning for those moments is no longer optional."
#SolarSuperstorm #SolarFlares #Magnetosphere #MagnetosphericCompression #Satellites #SpaceIndustry #DarkSkies #SpaceJunk #InternetOutages #KesslerSyndrome #CarringtonEvent #SystemVulnerabilities #ConnectedGrids #TechDisruption #DisruptiveTechnology
#Landlines #TechVulnerability -
Hey all! My name is Tyler. I want to share a little #introduction post. It's so nice to be here! My interests include #airQuality #buildings #community #construction #darkSkies #design #historicPreservation #history #placemaking #stainedGlass and more. Can you recommend accounts to follow? In any case I've heard good things about Mastodon and the fediverse so I'm looking forward to connecting with folks.
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Documenting dark skies and the light of the Milky Way: The last places on Earth to see truly dark starry nights #astrophotography #darkskies #stars #nightsky #lightpollution #photography #skyview #milkyway #astronomy #estrellas #cielonoche #etoiles #nightskyphotography
The last places on Earth to se... -
Documenting dark skies and the light of the Milky Way:
The last places on Earth to see truly dark starry nights
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20231123-the-last-places-on-earth-to-see-truly-dark-starry-nights
#astrophotography #darkskies #stars #nightsky #lightpollution #nightshot #noche #nuit #photography #Fotomontag #skyview #milkyway #astronomy #estrellas #cielonoche #etoiles #nightskyphotography
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And lastly, #PointNemo (which I did NOT know about... WTF!)
"Point Nemo is also known as “the oceanic pole of inaccessibility” for being the point in any ocean farthest from land. It serves as a "spacecraft cemetery" for space infrastructure and vessels.
The human-environment interactions that lie at the heart of environmental justice, including sacrifice zones, have been proposed to also include the environmental sacrifice of regions beyond Earth.[36] Klinger states that "the environmental geopolitics of Earth and outer space are inextricably linked by the spatial politics of privilege and sacrifice – among people, places and institutions".[36] Dunnett has called outer space the 'ultimate sacrifice zone' that exemplifies a colonially framed pursuit of infinite opportunities for accumulation, exploitation, and pollution. This manifests in both terrestrial and space-based sacrifice zones related to launch infrastructure, waste, and orbital debris.[37]
Point Nemo is an oceanic point of inaccessibility located inside the South Pacific Gyre. It is selected as the most remote location in the world and serves as a "spacecraft cemetery" for space infrastructure and vessels.[38] Since 1971, 273 spacecraft and satellites have been directed to Point Nemo; this number includes the Mir Space Station (142 tonnes) and will include the International Space Station (240 tonnes). "
Related article: Are We Trashing Earth’s Loneliest Spot?
Bob Grant
Tue, November 4, 2025https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trashing-earth-loneliest-spot-210000394.html
#SpaceIndustry #Satellites #DarkSkies #Starlink #SacrificeZones #SpaceJunk #Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation #EnvironmentalRacism #EconomicSacrificeZones #WaterIsLife #Industries #IndustrialUse #PollutionSacrificeZones
#GlobalSacrificeZones #CorporateColonialism #InALonelyPlace #TheMoonAndAnarctica
