A new look at radar data for Venus obtained by NASA's Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s suggests a large underground cavity exists that was created by a lava flow, the first subsurface feature ever detected there. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/10/world/science-health/radar-underground-lava-tube-venus/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #sciencehealth #space #satellites #venus #planets #nasa
dch :flantifa: :flan_hacker:
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"A race to secure regulatory approval for data centers in space is emerging, with a US startup called Starcloud submitting a proposal to the #FCC for a constellation of up to 88,000 #satellites—shortly after SpaceX filed plans to launch up to one million satellites. ... The filings point to a possible surge in satellite applications if other rival companies decide to pursue the concept on a wider scale." (via @PCMag)
"A race to secure regulatory approval for data centers in space is emerging, with a US startup called Starcloud submitting a proposal to the #FCC for a constellation of up to 88,000 #satellites—shortly after SpaceX filed plans to launch up to one million satellites. ... The filings point to a possible surge in satellite applications if other rival companies decide to pursue the concept on a wider scale." (via @PCMag)
Anyone know the total number of satellites currently in space? The numbers I see cite @planet4589 but haven't seen him post any updates here recently, and not sure where to look for any authoritative count. Was just trying to quantify this in an intelligence way for my students. (random craptastic, non-attributed Internet search says 9,450-ish Starlinks, plus 2,500 odd other things in the sky... but since no attribution, no idea if it's hallucinated or not).
(Update: 9,634 Starlinks per @sundogplanets , at least today on 2/3/2026)
Update to the update: Jonathan McDowell has this stats page, perfect!
Marc
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Something small transited the moon as I was looking through my telescope last night, crossing in a straight line in a southwesterly direction (relative to the moon’s face). Too distant to be a plane, I think. A Starlink satellite? The ISS? Taken on January 31 at 5:55pm in Brooklyn. Would be interesting to find out what it was.
#photography #astrophotography #moon #fullmoon #satellites #satellite
Something small transited the moon as I was looking through my telescope last night, crossing in a straight line in a southwesterly direction (relative to the moon’s face). Too distant to be a plane, I think. A Starlink satellite? The ISS? Taken on January 31 at 5:55pm in Brooklyn. Would be interesting to find out what it was.
#photography #astrophotography #moon #fullmoon #satellites #satellite
A #SpaceX proposal to put up to a million #satellites in orbit to process #AI data takes the controversies over its #Starlink network and ramps them up by two orders of magnitude. The plan would seem to trump other companies' aspirations to create orbital #datacenter constellations. https://www.geekwire.com/2026/spacex-fcc-million-data-center-satellites/ #Space #Tech #FCC
What the actual fuck. It's not April Fools Day, right? This is real?! Fuck you, SpaceX. Maybe this will help regulators realize how fucking shortsighted companies' plans in orbit are?
Surely the FCC won't rubber-stamp-approve this one??... ONE MILLION STARLINKS FUUUUCCCKKKKKK
https://au.pcmag.com/networking/115649/spacex-eyes-1-million-satellites-for-orbital-data-center-push
@sundogplanets Apropos of nothing, I recommend Becky Chambers’ SciFi book “The Galaxy, and the Ground Within”. A great read premised on the Kessler Effect.
Quixoticgeek
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Polluting Earth isn't enough. The shit show expands into space… 😖
SpaceX Eyes 1 Million Satellites For Orbital Data Center Push
Not just thousands. In an FCC filing, the company mentions deploying up to a staggering 'one million satellites' in orbits ranging from 500 kilometers to 2,000km.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-eyes-1-million-satellites-for-orbital-data-center-push
#space #ElonMusk #SpaceX #satellites #environment #pollution #future #Earth #world #humanity #science #data #info #information
Polluting Earth isn't enough. The shit show expands into space… 😖
SpaceX Eyes 1 Million Satellites For Orbital Data Center Push
Not just thousands. In an FCC filing, the company mentions deploying up to a staggering 'one million satellites' in orbits ranging from 500 kilometers to 2,000km.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-eyes-1-million-satellites-for-orbital-data-center-push
#space #ElonMusk #SpaceX #satellites #environment #pollution #future #Earth #world #humanity #science #data #info #information
"The satellites in Amazon's new internet-beaming megaconstellation in low Earth orbit (LEO) are bright enough to disrupt astronomical research, a study has found." (via @spacedotcom)
India plans to launch over 50 spy satellites and add night-time imaging to enhance its national security capabilities after a border conflict last year with Pakistan. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/21/asia-pacific/india-space-surveillance-border/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #asiapacific #india #satellites #surveillance #pakistan
Mre. Dartigen [maker mode]
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Sun releases the largest solar radiation storm ‘in over 20 years,’ forecasters say
By Ashley Strickland, January 19, 2026
"Powerful solar activity released by the sun is heading for Earth and it’s likely to create dazzling auroral displays in unexpected areas Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. It could also disrupt #satellite-based communications and #GPS accuracy.
"A solar radiation storm, ranked at a level four out of five on a severity scale, is being tracked by the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center, or #SWPC.
" 'An #S4 severe #SolarRadiation storm is now in progress - this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years,' SWPC shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.' "
Read more:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/science/largest-solar-radiation-storm-auroras
#SolarFlare #GeomagneticStorm #Satellites #KesslerSyndrome? #Starlink
Sun releases the largest solar radiation storm ‘in over 20 years,’ forecasters say
By Ashley Strickland, January 19, 2026
"Powerful solar activity released by the sun is heading for Earth and it’s likely to create dazzling auroral displays in unexpected areas Monday evening and early Tuesday morning. It could also disrupt #satellite-based communications and #GPS accuracy.
"A solar radiation storm, ranked at a level four out of five on a severity scale, is being tracked by the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center, or #SWPC.
" 'An #S4 severe #SolarRadiation storm is now in progress - this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years,' SWPC shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations.' "
Read more:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/science/largest-solar-radiation-storm-auroras
#SolarFlare #GeomagneticStorm #Satellites #KesslerSyndrome? #Starlink
SpaceX gets FCC permission to launch another 7,500 Starlink satellites
Including previous approvals, Starlink can now deploy 15,000 Gen2 satellites.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/01/spacex-gets-fcc-permission-to-launch-another-7500-starlink-satellites/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social
RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/115868067425414674
#SpaceX is authorized to construct, deploy, and operate an additional 7,500 Gen2 #Starlink satellites, bringing the total to 15,000 #satellites 🛰️
gittaca
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Did I mention I'm taking bets on when we'll see the first event that triggers Kessler Syndrome? 🤪
Western intelligence suspects Russia is developing new weapon to target Musk's Starlink satellites
Intelligence findings seen by The Associated Press say the weapon could release pellets to disable multiple satellites.
Did I mention I'm taking bets on when we'll see the first event that triggers Kessler Syndrome? 🤪
Western intelligence suspects Russia is developing new weapon to target Musk's Starlink satellites
Intelligence findings seen by The Associated Press say the weapon could release pellets to disable multiple satellites.
Japan’s third attempt at putting its Michibiki No. 5 satellite into orbit ended in failure after the second-stage engine of the H3 rocket carrying it stopped burning earlier than scheduled. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/japan/science-health/h3-rocket-launch-fails/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sciencehealth #jaxa #rockets #michibiki #satellites #space
Luke Drury
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An important white paper to read for anyone interested in how large satellite constellations affect #RadioAstronomy: "Quiet Skies Report: A Primer on Protecting Radio Astronomy in the Age of Satellite Mega-Constellations" by Greg Hellbourg (CalTech)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.00941
It's a very good introduction to the subject that gives a 30,000-foot view of the problem.