EUREKA, Nunavut, 2025-06-20
Arctic Skies Swarming with Satellites
Researchers have been tracking satellites over the Arctic, revealing a dramatic increase in their numbers and the potential for atmospheric pollution and interference with astronomical observations.
- Researchers used low-cost cameras to track satellites.
- The system has found over 17,000 unique satellites.
- Satellites are contributing to atmospheric pollution.
What’s orbiting above us? A novel system of cameras has been used to monitor the skies above Canada, revealing a surprisingly crowded space filled with thousands of satellites. This system, deployed across four sites in Canada, is providing the most comprehensive data yet on satellite activity, according to Western University.
How They Did It
In February, a team of researchers from Western University in Canada, in collaboration with Defense Research and Development Canada, ventured into the high Arctic to measure satellite activity. Their mission: to track the many objects traversing the polar sky.
The team used 14 low-cost cameras to track satellites passing overhead. On the evening of Feb. 22, 2025, they compiled the data into a long-exposure image, revealing the total activity for the night. Each white streak in the image represents a satellite’s path.
This system was inspired by meteor tracking techniques, with cameras positioned at various angles to capture the entire night sky.
Where the Data Was Gathered
The research team captured their data in Eureka, Nunavut, Canada.
(Image credit: U.Western and Defence R&D Canada)
Why It Matters
This new system has provided the first full year of satellite tracking data over Canada, according to Western University. The cameras are currently active at four locations across Canada: Eureka, Osoyoos, British Columbia, and Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan.
With the 14-camera setup, researchers could track objects as small as 11.8 inches (30 cm) in size. The system has observed over 17,000 unique satellites and nearly half a billion observations, according to the press release.
This technology offers a new way to monitor satellite activity. It also highlights how full our skies are becoming. Satellites are not only chemically polluting our atmosphere with heavy metals, but they are also a growing concern for astronomers.
Are satellites polluting the Earth’s atmosphere? Yes, satellites are contributing to atmospheric pollution through the release of heavy metals.
Further Reading
You can read more about Earth’s satellite activity and the increasing satellite pollution problem.
