Some individuals in New Brunswick’s astronomy community are standing against a U.S.-based company’s plan to use space mirrors to offer artificial sunlight for a fee. The company, Reflect Orbital, is promoting the concept of “sunlight on demand” as a service with diverse applications such as agriculture, solar energy infrastructure, search and rescue operations, and construction projects.
Catherine Lovekin, an astronomy professor at Mount Allison University, expressed concerns, stating that this initiative could severely impact ground-based astronomy and amateur stargazing due to the potential brightness of the mirrors compared to existing satellites. Despite public opposition, the project received approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for an initial “demonstration” satellite to test the technology and safety measures.
Reflect Orbital aims to deploy 50,000 satellites by 2035 to reflect sunlight back to Earth, even during nighttime, potentially obstructing views of the night sky for large telescopes. Lovekin highlighted the risks posed to natural cycles, such as circadian rhythms and nocturnal ecosystems, by disrupting the day and night cycle.
Stéphane Picard, proprietor of Cliff Valley Astronomy, echoed Lovekin’s worries, emphasizing the importance of maintaining dark-sky sites in New Brunswick to preserve the natural night sky for tourism and ecological balance. He mentioned plans to expand the province’s dark-sky locations to enhance stargazing opportunities.
Chris Curwin, founder of Astronomy by the Bay, raised concerns over escalating light pollution and the diminishing visibility of astronomical events in urban areas. Reflect Orbital defended its project, stating that the artificial light would be targeted at specific locations, regulated based on tolerable brightness levels, and include exclusion zones to protect astronomical observation sites.
While the company insists that the majority of areas will not be affected by the added light, concerns have been raised by astronomy experts globally, including those in British Columbia and Australia. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs acknowledged the absence of specific regulations prohibiting reflective objects in orbit but emphasized the need for international cooperation to address potential impacts on astronomical observations.