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decorative picture for the mainstream pages Observation arrow back picture and link to the theoretical tutorials What About the Light Pollution Question?

Another recent trend, in the field of amateur astronomy, is the so-called question of the light pollution. The feat is that some organizations, or groups of amateur astronomy are aiming to have the source of lights, in the large -or small cities- or any place of habitation, to be curbed, or deviced in such a way that they don't interfere with the observation of the night sky. Such calls are of interest, of course as they may quickly turn into anti-light pollution integrisms. The best example comes from a small town, in the South Island, New Zealand, named Tekapo, the officials of which are trying to get approved the first 'starlight reserve' by the UNESCO. Such views could lead to stigmatize the amateur astronomer community and force to practice the hobby in due locations only. Such debates thus are a good example of fake debates which eventually prove malign. A point at last, never evoked by night light activists, on the other hand, is the next to come launch of constellations of Internet satellites, by several countries or organization, which likely will prove a hindrance to amateur astronomy observation

->5G Satellite Constellations, a Threat to Night Sky Observation?
The SpaceX company, with its Starlink project, and other companies are putting into Earth's orbit, clouds of small-sized satellites which are to be used to extend Internet capabilities to remote areas and to connected objects. Some are worrying about the light pollution those constellations may bring to night sky. The 12,000 Spacelink satellites thus might do that some 500 of them be seen by midnight at the mid northern latitudes. Their light pollution will be due to their solar panels. OneWeb, Samsung, and Boeing, and linked to Facebook and Amazon have similar projects. Some light flares might be 50 percent brighter than star Sirius. SpaceX CEO, as far as its company is concerned, points however to that the solar panels of its satellites are designed to not reflect light during Earth's nights as one will have to search well to see those satellites. 4,900 satellites he adds, already are in Earth's orbit, which are not seen most of the time

Website Manager: G. Guichard, site 'Amateur Astronomy,' http://stars5.6te.net. Page Editor: G. Guichard. last edited: 6/3/2019. contact us at ggwebsites@outlook.com
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