News Astronomy

Starlink satellites’ leaky radio waves obscure the cosmos

Their unintentional emissions are about 10 million times brighter than natural sources

A line of bright spots representing satellites are seen in the night sky above a home

Unintentional radio emissions from Starlink satellites (a group of which are shown here crossing the sky) threaten radio astronomy, a new study suggests.

Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

By Sid Perkins

While SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are enabling internet access and cell phone communications around the globe, they’re also posing a threat to radio astronomy, a new study suggests.