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ABC News
4 days ago
- Science
- ABC News
Starlink satellites disrupting astronomy research in WA's Murchison, study finds
Global satellite internet service Starlink could interfere with the world's largest radio telescope being built in Western Australia's Murchison, a new study reveals. The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is an international project that aims to provide an unparalleled view of the universe, enabling scientists to explore the first billion years after the so-called dark ages, when the first stars and galaxies formed. Curtin University PhD researcher Dylan Grigg analysed 73 million images of the entire sky at different frequencies to examine how satellite signals were disrupting radio astronomy. His study indicated the future of WA's SKAO telescope, known as SKA-Low, could be in jeopardy, as radio noise spilling from thousands of Starlink satellites low orbiting Earth was already interfering with signals. Mr Grigg explored the 50—350 MHz frequency range that the SKA-Low would use during his three years of research. "We took an image of the sky every two seconds for about a month," he said. "In the end, we found that there were a lot of satellites, with the overwhelming majority of them being Starlink." Mr Grigg said Starlink satellites were emitting radio noise from onboard electronics, different to the designated downlink frequencies used for the internet. "It currently falls into a bit of a grey area of regulation," he said. "What they're doing is completely legal and fine, but it's interference for radio astronomy." Mr Grigg said SKA-Low aimed to seek out extremely faint signals emitting from the far reaches of the universe, but this would be challenging with "very noisy" satellites passing. "Even if your algorithms are very good for filtering some of this … it makes it really difficult." The ABC has contacted Starlink for comment. SKAO spectrum manager Federico Di Vruno said Mr Grigg's findings were consistent with SKAO's previous studies, but more work was needed to develop a clearer understanding of Starlink's impact on low-frequency observations. "Unintended electromagnetic radiation (UEMR) is an unregulated aspect of space which poses a challenge for radio astronomy," he said. The number of human-made objects in space has soared, with the Union of Concerned Scientists reporting that a record number of satellites were launched last year. But Mr Di Vruno said that, unlike the single station used in Mr Grigg's study, the SKA-Low would use many stations separated over a large distance, meaning the unwanted signals that satellites produced were not as much of a worry. "The SKA-Low telescope will be made of up to 512 stations spread over 74 kilometres," he said. "We are continuing to study the issue and raising it in international settings like the UN in collaboration with all stakeholders." International Centre for Radio Astronomy director Steven Tingay said he hoped Mr Grigg's report would stimulate conversation. "I characterise this particular study as, I think, the most comprehensive, unbiased study of the situation, setting down a bit of a baseline for what's going on at this particular point in time," Professor Tingay said. "We can then revisit this in future years and then go back and compare to the baseline and see what's changed — have things improved, have things not improved? Are there more signals? "And also, stimulate discussion, raising awareness with the general public that, yeah, there are some pretty obvious trade-offs between having global internet, which is an amazing thing, and preserving the sky for doing important science. "It's a trade-off there that I think the public should be aware of."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Aussie researchers warn of 'unintended' Starlink issue amid growing adoption
Australian researchers are highlighting a frustrating problem in the skies above us as the growing number of satellites providing high-speed internet connectivity are having unintended consequences, potentially hindering our ability to understand the universe. New research has shown how the satellite technology of private companies like Starlink — increasingly relied upon by Aussies — is inadvertently interfering with the ability of researchers to study the depths of the cosmos. The warning comes after astronomers in Western Australia undertook the world's biggest study of low frequency satellite radio emissions. And it comes at a particularly critical time as construction continues in the state on what will become the world's largest radio telescope — a massive project known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) that promises to help answer some of the biggest questions in the field. "It's going to be the largest radio telescope of all time, and it's looking for very faint signals from the early universe," PhD candidate and study lead Dylan Grigg told Yahoo News Australia. "And so what we wanted to do was understand the prevalence of satellites at the frequencies that the Square Kilometre Array would be looking over." The researchers essentially took an image of the sky every two seconds for about a month, totalling some 76 million images. "We detected a lot of satellites in the images. The overwhelming majority of those were Starlink satellites," Grigg said. "And what we found was that they're not transmitting at their designated downlink frequency, there's some emissions coming from some electronics on board the satellites." At some frequencies about a third of the images were ultimately impacted, and the disturbance was observed at frequencies that are set aside for radio astronomy. For instance, 703 satellites were identified at 150.8 MHz, which is meant to be protected for radio astronomy. While Starlink, which had more than 7,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit during the period when the study was carried out, isn't doing anything wrong, the devices "just happen to be [emitting] over frequencies that radio astronomers will want to be conducting science with the SKA," Grigg said. Industry and academia clash as space fills up Australians in regional areas have increasingly adopted Starlink's internet services, with the company previously saying it has more than 200,000 local subscribers. While many residents in the bush rely on it for fast home internet, caravan travellers also take it on the road to stay connected at campgrounds and remote spots around the country. The WA astronomers don't dispute the boon the service provides, but hope the research will help lead to solutions to ensure scientists and private business can operate in harmony. "We've had a dialogue ongoing with SpaceX about it. They've made good mitigations in the past for optical astronomy, like they've painted their satellites with a darker paint, and they've put visors up on them. So we're hoping that by doing a study like this, we can continue the dialogue with them and hopefully see if we can get them to make some similar mitigations for radio as well." With Amazon launching satellites in a bid to compete with Starlink, and a raft of other companies launching their own satellites for various networks including emerging direct to mobile technology, low-Earth orbit is becoming an increasingly busy place. "Starlink isn't the only satellite network, but it is by far the biggest and its emissions are now increasingly prominent in our data," Executive Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and study co-author Steven Tingay said in a statement. New SKA project puts astronomy on 'edge of golden era' Being assembled at more than 500 sites in the Australian outback and due to be finished by the end of the decade, the SKA will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope on the planet. The international project has been likened to one of the world's biggest science experiments that will be able to peer back into the earliest time of the universe. "It'll be a game-changer," Grigg told Yahoo News. Professor Tingay said it will help answer some of the most important questions we have. "We're standing on the edge of a golden era where the SKA will help answer the biggest questions in science: how the first stars formed, what dark matter is and even test Einstein's theories," he said. "But it needs radio silence to succeed. We recognise the deep benefits of global connectivity but we need balance, and that starts with an understanding of the problem, which is the goal of our work." Their research highlighting the "unintended Starlink broadband emission on radio astronomy" in the SKA bands was published this month in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
