Nature Podcast Photobombing satellites could ruin the night sky for space telescopes
Dec 3, 2025
Alejandro Borlaff, an astronomer at NASA's Ames Research Center, discusses alarming findings on how satellite mega-constellations could jeopardize space telescopes, like Hubble, by introducing damaging light pollution. He outlines potential mitigation strategies to protect the night sky. Jacqueline Rifkin, a Cornell University researcher, reveals surprising effects of video call glitches, showing they can diminish hiring chances and social trust. Their insights highlight the intersection of technology and human interaction, emphasizing the need for awareness of these emerging challenges.
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Rapid Growth Of Low-Earth Satellites
- Satellite numbers in low Earth orbit have surged from ~4,000 to ~15,000 in four years and include many inactive fragments.
- These objects reflect sunlight and already produce thin streaks that contaminate telescope images.
From Rare Dots To Frequent Streaks
- Alejandro recalls that satellites used to be hard to see but are now “way, way, way more common” in the night sky.
- That change motivated concern about the effects on astronomical observations.
Space Telescopes Face Severe Photobombing
- Simulations predict huge increases in satellite trails for space telescopes if proposals proceed to ~500,000 satellites.
- Hubble could show trails in >1 of 3 images and some planned telescopes could see contamination in ~96% of images.