Regarding whats on the news lately about SpaceX plan to launch one million satellites to have space as a hub for AI data centers. What does this mean for astrophotography? Is it realistically a threat to the hobby as a whole or does it mean a more aggressive rejection parameter would solve the issue if it ever arises?
SpaceX's million satellite plan: threat to astrophotography or manageable challenge?
Engaging
It’s a threat to a lot more than just Astro photography. I’m ready for the band aid to be ripped off and personally can’t wait for the bubble to burst.
It’s a threat to night. At the 5,000 to 6,000 that are up there now, plus the accumulated space debris since the start of the ‘space age’, studies show that the cumulative reflected light has already reduced darkness, everywhere, by 10%. At 100,000, and the corresponding increase, and increase in rate, of debris, probably no more Bortle 1 sites, and maybe no Bortle 2. At a million, no night.
That a single individual wouldn’t hesitate to change our world (in every respect) in such a profound way to serve their own ends is avarice and ego of an unprecedented level. That everyone else let’s it happen is self absorption and complacency at an even greater level.
Scott
Don’t forget China’s plan to launch their version of starlink.
It’s a problem and it’s not just SpaceX, it’s the world. LEO is being heavily commercialized and it’s going to continue. I think the question is, how many sats and how much debris can we have in LEO before it becomes unusable by anyone? Kessler syndrome anyone??
So far, the rejection algorithms in our stacking programs are getting the job done but I wonder what the limits are? NINA might have to add LEO dusk and dawn to the wait for time command.
Engaging
100% definite threat to astrophotography.
Already impossible to get a photo of M42 without unrejectable satellite trails.
Already impossible to get a photo of M42 without unrejectable satellite trails.
It’s barely a consideration aside from a few specific targets like M42. Most of my satellite reject frames are from geostationary satellites.
Besides, if people really cared enough, they would throw all their tech in the dumpster and live in the woods, but we all know they won’t do it. It’s like the people who protest copper mines, while driving an EV with an absurd amount of copper in them.
It’s not just about AP.
Even if software can handle 150x the number of satellite track in you subs (that would be up to 600 tracks in a single sub for me), the data will still be diminished by the general loss of darkness.
Questioning the sincerity of others is the oldest dodge in the book.
Scott
should be illegal to launch that many imo, this is crazy
Many animals and insects use stars for navigation. Yes, some can recognize the star patterns, we can even say they have their own constellations! It is a known fact that these types of artificial lights disrupt bird migrations, resulting in millions of deaths every year and then affecting the entire ecosystem.
The unseen consequences are so high that I can’t even think of my subs. And I do astronomy during the day and astrophotography at night.
Kay Ogetay · Feb 2, 2026, 05:52 AM
Many animals and insects use stars for navigation. Yes, some can recognize the star patterns, we can even say they have their own constellations! It is a known fact that these types of artificial lights disrupt bird migrations, resulting in millions of deaths every year and then affecting the entire ecosystem.
Same applies to light polllution and night active fauna.
Oh, but we all love our Internet, now, don’t we?
So far, my method of acquisition seems to iron out the Musk tracks. I take my pictures, usually hundreds of subs. Then stack them. I’m using ASI Studio because I’m using ASI cameras, and the musk tracks always disappear, so far.
I also know that what goes up, must come down. So watch for your own personal satellite to land in your own yard or field. Or maybe stuck in your roof or car. 🤠
Don't forget that all those satellites eventually come back down to earth disintegrating in our atmosphere. While doing that they distribute tons of metal oxides in the upper layers destroying our ozone layer.
D. Jung · Feb 2, 2026, 05:16 PM
Don't forget that all those satellites eventually come back down to earth disintegrating in our atmosphere. While doing that they distribute tons of metal oxides in the upper layers destroying our ozone layer.
That really is the 600 lb. gorilla in the room that no one talks about.
SonnyE · Feb 2, 2026, 04:10 PM
Oh, but we all love our Internet, now, don’t we?
How was your Internet connection in 2018, same as now or did it improve?
Rainer Ehlert · Feb 2, 2026, 06:28 PM
SonnyE · Feb 2, 2026, 04:10 PM
Oh, but we all love our Internet, now, don’t we?
How was your Internet connection in 2018, same as now or did it improve?
Actually, my Internet connection has been top tier since the 1990’s. A friend and I both had Business grade DSL before it became ADSL. Which severely degraded my DSL service because the phone company (MaBell) tapped my cleaned line for others ADSL service. Which degraded my DSL service.
When MaBell screwed me out of 2 ½ weeks of monthly service. I dumped them for good and got my cable service which has been upgraded over and over at no interruption to me.
If you knew anything about the World Wide Wait you’d know that the phone company was the reason for crappy Internet service for decades.
How was my Internet connection in 2018? Probably a damn site better than most. It’s so fast now I don’t ever have to check it. It’s a zippy, zippy kind of thing.
But Star Link is being pushed as some kind of Internet for the masses. I know better. I also noted everybody here is busy staying busy on the web.
What is 1 million more satellites going to improve? Like light pollution, I’ll use filters and whatever programs I can to clean my images. (Not band aids like PixInsight.)
Look Ma! No satellites!
📷 One of my You Tube for Kids presentations
Look Ma! No satellites!
📷 One of my You Tube for Kids presentations
https://app.astrobin.com/i/7b7ak2/
No disrespect, but try a much deeper image. It is always possible to reject trails - by also rejecting the stuff you want to keep.
Scott Badger · Feb 1, 2026 at 01:19 PM
It’s a threat to night. At the 5,000 to 6,000 that are up there now, plus the accumulated space debris since the start of the ‘space age’, studies show that the cumulative reflected light has already reduced darkness, everywhere, by 10%. At 100,000, and the corresponding increase, and increase in rate, of debris, probably no more Bortle 1 sites, and maybe no Bortle 2. At a million, no night.
That a single individual wouldn’t hesitate to change our world (in every respect) in such a profound way to serve their own ends is avarice and ego of an unprecedented level. That everyone else let’s it happen is self absorption and complacency at an even greater level.
Scott
I was not aware of that. sorry for being lazy but do you have any link to that information?
reading that I need to think about a documentary I have seen a few days ago.
the documentary was about geologists who tried to prove that we are already within a new earth period, namely the human one “anthropozän“. maybe the stone guys need to look up instead of into the ground to proof that. if humans brightening up the planet by 10% isn’t a proof of a new period….
Arun H · Feb 2, 2026, 08:05 PM
Look Ma! No satellites!
📷 One of my You Tube for Kids presentations
https://app.astrobin.com/i/7b7ak2/
No disrespect, but try a much deeper image. It is always possible to reject trails - by also rejecting the stuff you want to keep.
No offence taken, Arun. That was just one in the pile. Before I had uploaded some singles taken under the full moon with my single 3nm LP filter. That filter tends to turn things reddish, because it is Ha and OIII.
Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t.
📷 Later Great Orion Nebula January 2026
https://app.astrobin.com/i/ubczx4/📷 Bodes Galaxy and Neighbors.
https://app.astrobin.com/i/hs61q7/
Last night I switched drawers back to my Antlia Quad LP filter for giggles. I think it does better when Mr. Moon is being obnoxious.
📷 Letter Y Nebula 120s 200 Quad filter
https://app.astrobin.com/i/5ymhrw/
Much better tone I think. Better balance.
Kessler Syndrome probability will notably increased.
Especially when China starts fooling around.
Daemon de Chaeney · Feb 3, 2026, 07:42 PM
Kessler Syndrome probability will notably increased.
Tony Gondola is right: these satellite constellations are a real threat for the whole society, more and more dependant on the internet, for instance for payments. How does a Kessler Event happen?
There is a very accurate description in Gerald M. Kilby trilogy: Moon Base Delta. It starts from a solar storm, that affects a few satellites that collide with others and create billions of debris, forming with the time an impassable belt around the Earth.
No more internet, no more weather monitoring, no more space flights - the consequences would (will?) be incaculable.
So we have better keep some cash money !
I don’t see it as a threat at all.
We will see if it actually happens. This feels like OpenAI signing contracts worth over a trillion dollars. Their deal with Nvidia is already on the ropes.
I am sure many crazy schemes were cooked up during the dot com bubble when every executive expected the line to keep going up forever.
Monty Chandler:
I don’t see it as a threat at all.
You will.