CPS Launches Campaign to Observe Kuiper Satellites

Amazon launched its first two Kuiper constellation satellites on 6 October, one of which has mitigations that are intended to reduce its impact on optical astronomy observations. The IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS) welcomes Amazon’s engagement with the impacts of satellite constellations on astronomy, both through constructive dialogue about these satellite launches and through its involvement in the CPS Industry & Technology hub.

Following the launch of the Kuiper satellites, CPS SatHub — which coordinates observations and data analysis — is starting an observational campaign to independently assess the brightness of these satellites and hence predict the potential impact of the full constellation on astronomy in the future.

We invite everyone who is observing these satellites — whether with telescopes, by visual brightness measurements, or photographs — to share these data with SatHub. While we work to develop a formal observation submission system, please share any observations or expressions of interest in this topic with SatHub by first joining CPS and submitting the collaboration agreement. You will then receive instructions for how to submit via the CPS Slack Workspace.

More information

The International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU CPS) is a global organisation co-hosted by the US-based NSF’s NOIRLab and the SKA Observatory (SKAO), under the auspices of the IAU. The CPS facilitates global coordination of efforts by the astronomical community in concert with observatories, space agencies, industry, regulators and other sectors to help mitigate the negative consequences of satellite constellations on astronomy.

Links

• IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference
• CPS SatHub

Contacts

Meredith Rawls
Co-Lead, Sathub, University of Washington/Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Email: sathub@cps.iau.org

Mike Peel
Co-Lead, Sathub, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Email: sathub@cps.iau.org

Siegfried Eggl
Co-Lead, Sathub, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Email: sathub@cps.iau.org

Lars Lindberg Christensen
NSF's NOIRLab Head of Communications, Education & Engagement/IAU Director of Communications
Cell: +1 520 461 0433/+49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars.christensen@noirlab.edu