Huge Survey vs. Tiny Space Junk

June 3, 2024 | AAS Nova

Stars and satellites as seen by the Dark Energy Camera

As construction continues on the Vera Rubin Observatory, the skies above its mountaintop home grow more and more crowded following every rocket launch. Astronomers, conscious of the plans for mega-constellations of new satellites in the next few years, are rightfully worried: will these satellites and the tiny bits of debris that come with every deployment and collision affect the new telescope’s long-awaited, gigantic survey?

Read more about this research featuring DiRAC Fellow Meredith Rawls at AAS Nova!