satellites from Starlink crossing the sky while a comet adds a celestial appearance
In the vast expanse of space, two phenomena are making headlines: the broad deployment of SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation and the rare approach of Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS). While the latter is moving far from our planet, the former has sparked significant concern among astronomers.
As of mid-2025, Starlink serves broadband internet to around 120 countries and territories, with approximately 8,000 satellites in orbit. However, astronomers remain concerned about the interference caused by these satellites, particularly in the realm of radio astronomy observations. Recent studies confirm that Starlink satellites are a major and frequent source of radio frequency interference, which can drown out the faint cosmic radio signals used by astronomers to study the universe.
The interference is primarily due to unintended signals leaking from the satellites' onboard electronics, which interfere with radio telescopes like those that will be part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), expected to be the most sensitive radio telescope upon completion later this decade. The increasing number of low Earth orbit satellites like Starlink complicates the study of phenomena in the transient radio sky and threatens the integrity of radio astronomy research on a global scale.
Beyond radio interference, Starlink satellites also pose challenges in optical astronomy by creating bright streaks that disrupt telescope images and night sky visibility. Studies reveal that many of these satellites exceed the International Astronomical Union’s established brightness limits designed to protect both professional astronomy and public stargazing experiences.
While satellite operators have expressed intentions to reduce these emissions, effective mitigation has not yet been broadly implemented. There is a call within the astronomy community for stronger international collaboration and regulatory oversight to safeguard astronomical research and preserve the natural night sky.
Meanwhile, SpaceX aims to deploy another 4,000 satellites, with a potential final constellation of up to 42,000 satellites. To address optical concerns, SpaceX has added reflective film to redirect sunlight away from Earth and has attempted to reduce the brightness of the reflected light by coating the satellites in a dark material.
In a stark contrast, Comet C/2024 made its closest pass to Earth on January 13, coming within 8.7 million miles (around 14 million km) of our planet. This particular flyby was a very rare approach, with the comet not expected to return for hundreds of thousands of years.
SpaceX began deploying Starlink internet satellites in 2019 and currently has more than 6 million customers. Don Pettit, a former astronaut, has a collection of his best imagery from his most recent orbital mission available to view, including a video capturing Starlink satellites moving from left to right in low-Earth orbit and Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) in its journey. The video was captured from the International Space Station (ISS) by Pettit.
Despite the awe-inspiring images, astronomers continue to voice their concerns about the impact of Starlink satellites on deep space observations. As the constellation continues to expand, it remains crucial for international collaboration and regulatory oversight to ensure the preservation of astronomical research and the natural night sky.
Science and technology collide in the realm of space-and-astronomy, as the rapid expansion of SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation raises significant concerns among astronomers. Despite efforts by SpaceX to mitigate optical interference caused by these satellites, recent studies confirm that Starlink satellites are a major source of radio frequency interference, threatening the integrity of radio astronomy research on a global scale.
