"Observations of #BlueWalker3 (#BW3) beginning on December 8 of this year indicate that its apparent brightness had decreased. We postulate that the orbital beta angle and resultant solar power considerations required an adjustment to the #satellite attitude around that time. ... This situation indicates the improvement in the appearance of BW3 from the ground that can be achieved with small tilts of the spacecraft."

https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.01601

The International Astronomical Union's Center for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation statement on the AST SpaceMobile BlueWalker 3 satellite and potential impacts to astronomy: "BlueWalker 3 is a big shift in the constellation satellite issue and should give us all reason to pause." #BW3

📷: KPNO/NOIRLab/IAU/SKAO/NSF/AURA/R. Sparks

https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2211/

#Winter
#Poland
The #nineties
#fotografia #photography #BW3

First published observations of the #ASTSpaceMobile #BlueWalker3 satellite: "The average visual magnitude when seen overhead at the beginning or ending of astronomical twilight is found to be 1.5." #BW3

https://arxiv.org/abs/2211.09811

“For now, astronomers must learn to share the skies with the shiny machines. ‘This is the water we swim in,’ Liszt says. ‘All we want everybody to do is stay in their own lane.’” #BlueWalker3 #BW3 #SatCons

https://www.science.org/content/article/giant-satellite-outshines-stars-sparking-fresh-concerns-astronomers