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A comment on SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation’ threat to astronomy. Parent comment

Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by FeepingCreature on Thursday January 16, 2020 @02:47PM (#22068135)
If SpaceX works out, we'll probably see a lot more telescopes in space. Wouldn't be that expensive at that point for, say, a school class to launch a telescope cubesat.

I'd trade amateur ground astronomy for that.

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by SiempreViernes on Thursday January 16, 2020 @02:57PM (#22068245)
I'm not entirely sure how you think looking at an image on a computer screen compensates for the experience of doing observations with your own eyes.

There are plenty of good pictures on wikipedia already, do looking at those compare to going out on a clear night and looking at the stars yourself?

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by fastball on Thursday January 16, 2020 @04:42PM (#22069287)
A LEO satellite constellation will absolutely not prevent you from looking into the night sky with a telescope and seeing stars.
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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by SiempreViernes on Thursday January 16, 2020 @09:22PM (#22071287)
"Seeing a star" is a low bar to pass, especially if you get a telescope to help you.
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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by petschge on Thursday January 16, 2020 @04:43PM (#22069302)
The dead of night will be fine. But during (astronomical) twilight, the time when you are most likely awake and looking up, it will have ugly extra dots.
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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by fastball on Thursday January 16, 2020 @10:20PM (#22071565)
Also I'm sorry but I really, really don't care about a hobby if it gets in the way of the progress of the entire human race.

Imagine if a painter in Greece in some century BC convinced his fellow Grecians that building a harbor in the cove by their town was a bad idea because it ruined his paintings of the cove. How was he supposed to look at the marine life if you stuck wood and industry in the water???

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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by jwhitlark on Thursday January 16, 2020 @11:54PM (#22071981)
This. Every change has some negative effect. The question is whether the net effect is positive or negative.
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Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation... by fastball on Thursday January 16, 2020 @04:50PM (#22069368)
What makes a dot ugly?
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