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Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by danielvf on Friday January 26, 2018 @09:50AM (#16239550)
This is utterly, utterly overblown.

The Space Station is thousands of times bigger and throws back a hundred times more light than this will.

Every evening, for most of the populated world, dozens of brighter satellites than this go overhead. I just checked the orbits for my evening here - 57 brighter satellites.

But what about the flashing? Well, we've got those already too. The old, awesome Iridium satellites have giant antennas that act like mirrors. When one beams the sun onto you at night for a few seconds, it's hundreds of times brighter than the Humanity Star. The Hitomi, a failed Japanese weather satellite, flashes every second or so as it spins - again, much brighter than this will ever be.

And worries about Kessler syndrome for this object in a very low earth orbit? Even if every satellite in similar orbit magically exploded tomorrow, the debris would be gone in less than year. In the meantime we could still launch to other orbits. Kessler syndrome is overhyped in general, and a complete non-issue this low.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by yAnonymous on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:07AM (#16239659)
No. It's good to criticize this now, before everyone starts doing it. I really don't want ad banners in the sky twenty years from now.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by donatj on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:09AM (#16239687)
I cannot wait for the day when everyone has equal access to launching their disco balls into space.

I have one in my basement just taking up space, it should be taking up space.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by rosstex on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:32AM (#16239878)
That pun is out of this world!
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by chimmy_chonga on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:17AM (#16239753)
Those served an actual purpose though. They weren't just shoved into space just to say, "hey look at what we did". That's the point they're making. Don't pollute space just because you can.

EDIT: typos

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by anotheryou on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:50AM (#16240037)
One could argue: this one gets press, which gets funding, which is quite important for science.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by chimmy_chonga on Friday January 26, 2018 @01:45PM (#16241754)
that's a good point
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by rbanffy on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:46AM (#16240007)
This also serves a purpose - there had to be a payload to properly test the rocket.

It'll come down in 9 months or so.

Also, from LEO, it's not that visible.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by wodenokoto on Friday January 26, 2018 @12:04PM (#16240770)
> It is expected to become the brightest object in the night sky for nine months until it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.

That sounds like a pretty big deal to me.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by danielvf on Friday January 26, 2018 @01:52PM (#16241828)
There’s no way it’s true though. It’s simply not big enough.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by clarkenheim on Friday January 26, 2018 @12:15PM (#16240884)
How did you "check the orbits for your evening"? just curious, i would like to check my own from time to time and have a look on a clear night. If it is something a layman can do?
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by danielvf on Friday January 26, 2018 @01:03PM (#16241335)
http://heavens-above.com

First you’ll need to set your location, then click on “daily predictions for brighter satellites”.

For your first time watching, look for ones brighter that 3.0 (maginitudes get brighter as the number gets smaller. So a 6.0 isn’t one most people can see with their eyes, 2.0 is a bright, easy to see star and a zero is one of the brightest stars in the sky). Also make sure the satellite is going to be high enough in the sky to see. It’s great fun!

Definitely also look on heavens-above for upcoming ISS flybys. You’ll notice that the brightness varies a bit. Catch a bright one, (with a big negative number) and be amazed for life.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by clarkenheim on Friday January 26, 2018 @01:42PM (#16241725)
this is awesome, thanks
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by gmiller123456 on Friday January 26, 2018 @02:07PM (#16241970)
This is the site I normally use: http://heavens-above.com/main.aspx

There's lots of similar websites and apps now if you search around.

Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by api on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:06AM (#16239657)
It's the precedent. We do not want space based ads.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by Androider on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:08AM (#16239674)
Do you want space colonies, commercial stations and activity? Cause I don't think you'll get one without the other.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by salvar on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:26AM (#16239826)
We can't have space colonies or commercial stations without space advertising?
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by rbanffy on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:47AM (#16240019)
No, but you can't until someone pays to develop the technology.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by salvar on Friday January 26, 2018 @11:02AM (#16240151)
Right... how does space advertising relate to that though? Are you saying that's the only viable business model for space travel and colonization?
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by rbanffy on Friday January 26, 2018 @01:33PM (#16241624)
No. but it's one. And, since we don't quite know which one will pay the bill, we need each and every model we can get.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by api on Friday January 26, 2018 @10:12AM (#16239707)
Sure. A house is not an ad. What I don't want is a malt liquor billboard in orbit.
Re:'Space graffiti': astronomers angry over launch of fake s... by paulsutter on Friday January 26, 2018 @11:06AM (#16240192)
Remember how ads were disallowed on the internet, as a sort of gentleman’s agreement? Didn’t last long