Planned launch of communications satellites to impact our view of the night sky: U of R researcher
The planned launch of thousands of communications satellites in the coming years is expected to have a dramatic impact on the viewing of the night sky, according to a University of Regina researcher.
Samantha Lawler is an assistant professor of Astronomy at the University of Regina’s Campion College, and the lead researcher on a project predicting which regions of the world will be impacted most by satellites.
“We looked at the distribution of the orbits that satellite companies want to use and how bright they will be,” Lawler said.
The research determined the satellites are expected to generate the most light pollution at 50 degrees latitude North and South. This would impact cities like Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and London, England.
“Right here where I live near Regina is one of the worst places in the world. There will be hundreds of satellites that will be visible to the naked eye all night long,” she said.
The team of researchers has also developed an app, so people had see what the night sky could look like where they live.
“Those nights will be full of hundreds of satellites, and if they’re bright enough to see with your eye, then they’re bright enough to create serious problems for research astronomy,” Lawler said.
The researchers are calling for regulation on the number of satellites launched into space, and their light-reflecting properties.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'