Satellite trajectories block the Arctic sky!

Researchers have created a satellite tracking system to trace satellite paths over the Arctic for the first time.

The article was published on June 21 by SpaceNews USA.

A collection of satellite activity images from 14 different cameras taken on the evening of February 22, 2025.

Each trace represents a satellite moving across the sky.

What is this?

In February, a team of researchers from Western University in Canada collaborated with the Canadian Defense Research and Development Organization to venture into the high Arctic region in an attempt to measure satellite orbital activities above the Arctic.

The researchers used 14 low-cost cameras that could track satellites passing overhead at night and compile them into long-exposure images to display all activities for the night.

Each white trace in the image shows the path of a satellite in the sky. Their system was inspired by meteor tracking, with cameras pointed at various angles to capture the entire night sky.

The long-exposure photo collection reveals many satellites crossing the Arctic.

Why is this amazing?

This innovative satellite system enables researchers to collect Canada's first annual satellite tracking data.

The system is currently deployed at four locations in Canada to monitor satellite activities, including: Eureka, Osoyoos, Lucky Lake in Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.

With the setup of 14 cameras, researchers can track objects larger than 30 centimeters in the sky.

So far, the system has identified more than 17,000 unique satellites and recorded nearly 500 million observations, according to press releases.

Although the system provides a more detailed method for monitoring satellite activities, it also reveals how crowded our skies are with these devices.

Satellites not only chemically pollute our atmosphere with heavy metals but also increasingly interfere with astronomers' attempts to observe deeper into our universe.

As more launch missions plan to add new satellites, the question arises: when will the sky become too crowded?

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1835489548951562/

Disclaimer: The article represents the views of the author alone.