You may want to sign this

[Carole]

50,000 Telecome satelittes will make Astronomy impossible.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/SpaceEx_Starlink_Fifty_thousand_telecom_satellites_will_make_astronomy_impossible/?aVIigpb&newuser=1

[NoelC]

Signed up! (what is AVAAZ?)
I quite agree it's going to make imaging impossible - I wonder if there is anything anyone can do to stop it?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty  Since the outer space treaty is principally concerned with the peaceful exploitation of space and not with limiting what people can do - so long as they don't blow us all up.  For example the Iridium satellite constellation already has loads of dead satellites circling around in LEO already with no one able to force them to do anything about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium_satellite_constellation.  It seems like you can do what you like in space if you have enough money (note to self:- cancel the order for a Tesla).

If there is nothing to stop them, and they do go ahead, maybe we should take up amateur satellite shooting? If they are in low orbit, a reasonably powerful industrial laser should knock them off course quite easily and with any luck they will start colliding with each other  ... 

Noel

[Carole]

AVAAZ is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization launched in January 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict.

Carole

[Carole]

Anyone else signed this?

Carole

[ApophisAstros]

AVAAZ is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization launched in January 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict.

Carole

They seem to have cast their net quite widely, jack of all trades master of none comes to mind?
Roger

[Carole]

Looks like the professional Astronomers are getting involved:

https://www.eso.org/public/announcements/ann19062/

Carole

[Carole]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/01/30/dangers-to-astronomy-intensify-with-spacexs-latest-starlink-launch/?fbclid=IwAR1tIHFlaz-as-uZ-2ycNSxNZO3yXUGps3X2arqk3yRC1Qihhj4_OYaguWE#410df3236a57

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fccs-approval-of-spacexs-starlink-mega-constellation-may-have-been-unlawful/

[Carole]

I don't believe it, there are others doing this now too, and launching them from NASA.

We might have to call it a day once all these have gone up.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/04/first-satellites-off-onewebs-new-florida-assembly-line-set-for-launch-this-week/

Carole

[ApophisAstros]

Jesus!!!
Roger

[Carole]

I just went onto a new site I have joined and found that there are a group of Astronomers taking legal action to stop any more going up:

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2232324-legal-action-could-be-used-to-stop-starlink-affecting-telescope-images/

Carole

[NoelC]

A good article Carole.
But I can't find any link to an actual case; suspect it's only being considered at present, although the American Astronomical Society had a special meeting on the subject, https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/8993/session/133 but this article suggests there is little anyone can do (legally):-
https://www.space.com/astronomers-concerned-starlink-little-legal-recourse.html
I tried emailing Stafano Gallozzi one of the authors of the original piece https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.10952 but the email address I found was out of date.  Have found a copy of his CV on line https://queloilmessia.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/printcurr.pdf will try his other email addresses to see if they have set up a crowdfunding site to mount a legal challenge.
Noel

[Rick]

This change.org one got a mention on the BAA radio astronomy group list:

https://www.change.org/p/stop-spacex-starlink-from-spoiling-outer-space-for-humanity

[ApophisAstros]

OK , All signed up.
Roger