Yhn ScienceScience first seen 20 h ago, last 38 min ago, peak #4
Astronomer turns sinking Starlink satellites into planetary barometer
Original: Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites to measure density variations in the upper atmosphere, effectively turning the satellite constellation into a global 'planetary barometer'. The approach exploits how satellites sink faster when the thermosphere thickens, offering dense atmospheric data from thousands of spacecraft. Readers are debating the ingenuity of repurposing satellites many astronomers consider a nuisance for observational science.
Why now: The novel idea of using Starlink's orbital decay for atmospheric science is gaining attention amid ongoing controversy over the satellite constellation's impact on astronomy.
Evidence
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