This year along, humans have launched more than 1,000 satellites into orbit, and the rate of growth in the satellite-based internet provider industry points to a future where the question isn’t “cable, DSL, or fiber” but Amazon, Starlink, or, well, there are a lot of potential options. 

In new simulations of what the sky will look like once all the intended networks are built, researchers find that for observers in certain unfortunate bands around the Earth, the future sky will shine brighter in satellites than in stars. According to Samantha Lawler, whose work is posted on arXiv: I think we really are at a transition point here where right now, seeing a satellite, or even a Starlink train, is cool and different and wow, that’s amazing. She goes on to explain that in the currently planned future: Every sixteenth star will actually be moving.

I, for one, do not welcome this satellite-internet future.

More Information

Satellite swarms may outshine the night sky’s natural constellations (Science News)

“Visibility Predictions for Near-Future Satellite Megaconstellations: Latitudes near 50 Degrees will Experience the Worst Light Pollution,” S. M. Lawler, A. C. Boley, and H. Rein, submitted to AAS Journals (preprint on arxiv.org)