Outcome of the SATCON1 Online Workshop
Abstract
In May 2019, the astronomical community was somewhat stunned at the brightness of the streaks of 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites seen in images. This underscored how we are experiencing a major intersection of technologies between deep, wide-field sky surveys and potentially large numbers of low-Earth-orbiting satellites (LEOsats), also known as constellation satellites. For instance, with potentially tens of thousands of Starlink satellites, SpaceX's capability to provide internet service to billions of people worldwide has definite merits. At the same time, there is a tremendous amount of new technology coming online within the field of astronomy in the next decade that will substantially increase humanity's understanding of the Universe. However, observatories require a dark night sky to uncover the secrets behind some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of our Universe. Prime examples of these new technologies are Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the 30-meter telescopes, coming online in the next decade. For reasons of expense, maintenance, and instrumentation, such facilities cannot be launched into space. Ground-based astronomy is, and will remain, vital and relevant.
- Publication:
-
The NOIRLab Mirror
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021Mirro...2...74W