FCC approves giant space mirror as astronomers warn of risks to the night sky

Comments

• Arghblarg@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Aiming it anywhere other than on US soil, without permission of the affected nation, should be considered eco-terrorism and an act of war.

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  • pageflight@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    A five-kilometer beam would not illuminate only its paying customer. Scattered light could reach nearby communities, habitats and roads. The exact reach would depend on weather, atmospheric conditions, brightness and how the mirror is aimed. Flashes created while a reflector changes direction could also distract pilots or drivers.

    It’s annoying enough when my neighbor’s motion sensing porch light keeps turning on. This sounds horrible.

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  • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    They say it will be equivalent to moonlight. With such a small mirror, I doubt it will even be that bright.

    The real issue will be a really bright satellite messing with astronomy. If they somehow manage to launch 50,000 of them, it will be huge problem.

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  • TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    how the fuck does the fcc have any say about international territory

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• TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  how the fuck does the fcc have any say? and also fuck these people.

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• nicgentile@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Futurama already thought about this, and it did not work out well.

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