EAGER: Impact of LEO Satellite Constellations on Optical Astronomy: Measurement, Simulation, Mitigation, and Forecast

University Of California-Davis, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

The exponential industrialization of space, in the form of tens of thousands of rather large Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communications satellites (LEOsats), has a timescale short compared with normal scientific research projects. As they are presently configured, LEOsats will have a major deleterious impact on ground based optical astronomy. This study will assess the science impact of LEOsats, and explore the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. There is an urgent need for informed studies that assess the impact realistically, as well as exploratory investigations to choose one, or a few, of the best of various proposed different mitigation strategies. Since the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (VRO) is most impacted, with a domino effect on all other astronomy which would use VRO data, this project will focus on assessment, laboratory measurements, simulation, and mitigation, specific to the VRO and its initial mission, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). The natural night sky is the universal heritage of everyone, not just professional astronomers, and it is threatened by tens of thousands of bright moving LEOsats. Finding ways to reduce their impact affects the quality of life of pretty well all of modern society. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.