Yhn ScienceScience first seen 2 h ago, last 9 min ago, peak #4
Astronomer turns falling Starlink satellites into a planetary barometer
Original: Astronomer watches Starlink satellites sinking to build a 'planetary barometer'
An astronomer is tracking how Starlink satellites sink in their orbits, using the drift as a 'planetary barometer' to measure changes in Earth's upper atmosphere. Because the satellites' orbits respond to atmospheric drag, their gradual descent can act as a gauge of density variations. The idea is drawing attention among space and science readers interested in whether mega-constellations could double as atmospheric monitoring tools.
Why now: The novel repurposing of Starlink's orbital decay for atmospheric science is striking and ties into ongoing debate about satellite mega-constellations.
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