Astronomical Finding Disputed After Possibly Being Mistaken for a Satellite
In December 2020, astronomers made an exciting discovery of a burst of highly energetic light in one of the most distant galaxies ever observed. However, less than a year later, the paper’s claims have found themselves in limbo as other scientists have suggested that the burst of light may have simply been a passing satellite.
Krzysztof Kamiński, an astronomer at the Astronomical Observatory Institute in Poland, matched the position, time, and brightness of the discovery to an orbiting spacecraft, leading him to believe that the highly energetic light was not a natural phenomenon, but rather a technological one.
Linhua Jiang, the astronomer at Peking University in Beijing who led the original finding, insists that his team stands by their work. He emphasized the probability of a satellite passing directly in front of the distant galaxy at exactly the right moment as being minuscule at best.
The dispute has sparked questions about the increasing interference of satellite technology with ground astronomy. As the number of satellites orbiting the Earth continues to grow rapidly, concerns are rising about how it will impact the ability of astronomers to study the cosmos and their impact on humanity’s place in it.
For example, SpaceX’s constellation, Starlink, is already made up of over 5,000 satellites, with plans to add thousands more from other companies and countries in the coming years. The proliferation of satellites could hinder ground astronomy’s ability to make scientific discoveries.
Efforts to mitigate satellite interference are already underway. For instance, the Vera Rubin Observatory, which is set to come online in 2025, is implementing strategies to address the challenges posed by satellite constellations.
Astronomers are also working with the satellite industry to develop solutions to darken satellites and are appealing to regulators to pay more attention to the impact of the growing satellite industry on ground-based telescopes.
However, with the rapid pace at which satellites are being launched and the time it takes to build new telescopes, there is a significant mismatch, making it increasingly challenging for ground-based observatories to keep up.
The ongoing negotiations between astronomers and satellite operators represent an important step in addressing some of the challenges posed by satellite constellations. However, experts caution that there may come a time when mitigation efforts are no longer sufficient, and there may be a need to impose restrictions on the number of satellites in orbit to protect scientific research in astronomy.