At first, the satellite tv for pc appeared unremarkable, solely faintly seen to the human eye at between magnitude 4 and eight. That modified dramatically on 10 November when the spacecraft instantly brightened and commenced to outshine most stars.

This improve was the results of spacecraft unfurling its flat panel antennas into an array the dimensions of squash courtroom (about 64 sq. meters). That makes BlueWalker 3 one of many largest objects ever positioned in low Earth orbit. Daylight mirrored from this array additionally makes it one of many brightest.

Because the launch, astronomers monitored the spacecraft’s brightness and have now printed their findings. “[BlueWalker 3] elevated in brightness by 4 magnitudes or 40 occasions after the spacecraft deployed its massive antenna,” says Anthony Mallama, who coordinated the data-gathering efforts. That makes it an analogous brightness to China’s TianGong area station however much less brilliant than the Worldwide Area Station.

Mallama requested astronomers all over the world to measure the brightness of BlueWalker 3 on the onset or finish of astronomical twilight, when many satellites are bathed in daylight whereas nonetheless superimposed on the night time sky. The outcomes counsel the spacecraft’s brightness is magnitude 1.5, about the identical as stars similar to Castor within the constellation of Gemini or Bellatrix in Orion.

BlueBird Considerations

Nonetheless, the spacecraft can grow to be brighter than this, reaching magnitude 0 at occasions. That’s much like a number of the brightest stars within the sky similar to Arcturus within the Boötes constellation, Vega in Lyra and Rigel in Orion.

The findings increase concern for astronomers who fear that BueWalker 3 may intrude with observations. But AST SpaceMobile has extra formidable plans. BlueWalker 3 is a prototype for a fleet of 100 related satellites referred to as Bluebirds, a few of which may very well be a number of occasions bigger.

Such a constellation may create a major show within the night time sky and can add to the controversy generated by different communications constellations and the way they will intrude with astronomical observations.

For instance, Elon Musk’s StarLink at the moment has about 3000 satellites in low Earth orbit and by some accounts goals ultimately to have 42,000 of them, though these are at the moment much less brilliant than BlueWalker 3.

To see BlueWalker 3, go to the Heavens-Above.com web site which at the moment calculates its place and descriptions when it will likely be seen in your space.

Ref: Visible Magnitude of the BlueWalker 3 Satellite tv for pc : arxiv.org/abs/2211.09811