It has been observed that the presence of Starlink satellites has had a negative impact on a growing number of Hubble telescope images

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The increasing number of internet satellites, such as Starlink vehicles, are causing damage to Hubble telescope images.
Astronomers are facing a growing problem as these communication satellites in low-Earth orbit are obstructing the view of the telescope. The research team has calculated that the passage of Starlink satellites is distorting more and more Hubble images, rendering them unusable.

It is crucial to address this issue as the number of satellites is rapidly increasing. Between 2009 and 2020, 3.7% of Hubble images were affected by satellite interference. This figure has increased to 5.9% in 2021. With approximately 4,000 satellites currently in orbit, interference from Starlink satellites should be expected when Hubble captures images in space.

However, this is not a significant issue for Hubble as multiple images are typically stitched together for research purposes. The satellite’s trajectory can be calculated. Due to the increasing number of satellites, other telescopes and measuring instruments will have limited capabilities. The numerous satellites are expected to severely limit their field of view.

China’s Xuntian space telescope, which is set to launch next year and will be positioned near the Tiangong space station, has been particularly affected.