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Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by anoncake on Sunday May 26, 2019 @01:07PM (#20015961)
Even if astronomers wanted to, the cost of replacing all terrestrial optical telescopes by orbital ones would be astronomical. Especially if you include amateurs. Stargazing wouldn't be a thing anymore.

And illuminating all of earth? I don't want to imagine the damage that would cause to ecosystems. It would completely take away peoples' choice not to live in a place with street lighting, or even to have a vacation in such a place. Street lighting is bad enough for peoples' circadian rhythms as is.

Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by Tepix on Sunday May 26, 2019 @02:15PM (#20016453)
Think about how many satellites that would require. 12,000 satellites are a joke.
Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by matz1 on Sunday May 26, 2019 @01:28PM (#20016117)
The world's always changing, they just have to adapt.
Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by manicdee on Sunday May 26, 2019 @02:15PM (#20016452)
Good luck living in a world without pollinators or insectivores.
Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by chr1 on Monday May 27, 2019 @04:30AM (#20020406)
That's a bit exaggerated, if illumination could kill all insects, there would not be any insects in arctic, which is false.
Re:Professional astronomers are calculating the cost of the ... by manicdee on Wednesday May 29, 2019 @02:25AM (#20037311)
How many do you need to lose for the ecosystem to collapse?

Not all, and probably as little as one or two species.