"Massive BlueWalker 3 Satellite Raises Concerns Over Light Pollution and Astronomical Observations"

Astronomers have expressed concerns over the increasing light pollution caused by BlueWalker 3, a communications satellite resembling a Tetris block. The satellite's peak brightness is comparable to some of the brightest stars in the night sky, posing challenges to ground-based and space-based astronomy. The large reflective brightness of such satellites leaves streaks in telescope detectors, making it difficult to recover affected data. Additionally, the radio frequencies used by BlueWalker 3 could interfere with radio astronomy. Efforts are being made to mitigate the impact, but the trend towards launching larger and brighter satellites continues. Researchers have called for a cap on low-altitude satellites to reduce light pollution and preserve the ability to study the night sky.