The high optical brightness of the BlueWalker 3 satellite
Author:
Nandakumar SangeethaORCID, Eggl SiegfriedORCID, Tregloan-Reed JeremyORCID, Adam Christian, Anderson-Baldwin JasmineORCID, Bannister Michele T., Battle Adam, Benkhaldoun ZouhairORCID, Campbell TannerORCID, Colque J. P., Damke Guillermo, Plauchu Frayn Ilse, Ghachoui Mourad, Guillen Pedro F.ORCID, Kaeouach Aziz Ettahar, Krantz Harrison R., Langbroek Marco, Rattenbury NicholasORCID, Reddy VishnuORCID, Ridden-Harper Ryan, Young Brad, Unda-Sanzana EduardoORCID, Watson Alan M.ORCID, Walker Constance E., Barentine John C.ORCID, Benvenuti Piero, Di Vruno Federico, Peel Mike W.ORCID, Rawls Meredith L., Bassa CeesORCID, Flores-Quintana CatalinaORCID, García Pablo, Kim Sam, Longa-Peña Penélope, Ortiz EdgarORCID, Otarola ÁngelORCID, Romero-Colmenares María, Sanhueza Pedro, Siringo Giorgio, Soto Mario
Abstract
AbstractLarge constellations of bright artificial satellites in low Earth orbit pose significant challenges to ground-based astronomy1. Current orbiting constellation satellites have brightnesses between apparent magnitudes 4 and 6, whereas in the near-infrared Ks band, they can reach magnitude 2 (ref. 2). Satellite operators, astronomers and other users of the night sky are working on brightness mitigation strategies3,4. Radio emissions induce further potential risk to ground-based radio telescopes that also need to be evaluated. Here we report the outcome of an international optical observation campaign of a prototype constellation satellite, AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3. BlueWalker 3 features a 64.3 m2 phased-array antenna as well as a launch vehicle adaptor (LVA)5. The peak brightness of the satellite reached an apparent magnitude of 0.4. This made the new satellite one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Additionally, the LVA reached an apparent V-band magnitude of 5.5, four times brighter than the current International Astronomical Union recommendation of magnitude 7 (refs. 3,6); it jettisoned on 10 November 2022 (Universal Time), and its orbital ephemeris was not publicly released until 4 days later. The expected build-out of constellations with hundreds of thousands of new bright objects1 will make active satellite tracking and avoidance strategies a necessity for ground-based telescopes.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Multidisciplinary
Reference34 articles.
1. Lawrence, A. et al. The case for space environmentalism. Nat. Astron. 6, 428–435 (2022). 2. Tregloan-Reed, J. et al. Optical to NIR magnitude measurements of the Starlink LEO Darksat satellite and effectiveness of the darkening treatment. Astron. Astrophys. 647, A54 (2021). 3. Tyson, J. A. et al. Mitigation of LEO satellite brightness and trail effects on the Rubin Observatory LSST. Astron. J. 160, 226 (2020). 4. Hu, J. A., Rawls, M. L., Yoachim, P. & Ivezić, Ž. Satellite constellation avoidance with the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Astrophys. J. Lett. 941, L15 (2022). 5. AST & Science LLC. BlueWalker 3 orbital debris mitigation. File No. 1059-EX-CN-2020. FCC https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=265584&x=.
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