"Humanity Star" or "Space Disco Ball"?

[Mitchz95]

Wait, already?

(Most of the article is behind a paywall. )

Edited March 22, 2018 by Mitchz95

[kerbiloid]

https://www.thehumanitystar.com/

FAQ says, March 22 (i.e. yesterday), but its online orbital map still is updating.

[Wjolcz]

Who's upset about this? Even if you don't like it it will eventually fall back and burn up. Even if it collided with something else the debris WILL fall back to Earth and burn up. I don't think a crash with another object would kick it into a higher non-dragy (is this even a word?) orbit to stay there and cascade.

I like the idea of it. Looking at objects like that can inspire people. I remember when I saw my first satellite and I was all in awe thinking "It's really there. So far up and yet I can still see it." Simple stuff like this really can change you in a way. Maybe if it wasn't for that one moment years ago I wouldn't be so excited about every F9 launch nowadays? Who knows?

[Green Baron]

These things are at least questionable, for some an annoying nuisance and clearly a wrong signal to all who just wait for an opportunity to put a message in the sky. But i fear it'll come. The first private company has already put objects up regardless of the consequences.

In a dark area one already can't watch a quiet sky now. There is sparkling and blinking in the hours before and after sunrise and -set, the inspiration is already there (no offense !). The times of a dark sky are over.

Edited March 23, 2018 by Green Baron

[kerbiloid]

3 hours ago, Wjolcz said:

Even if you don't like it it will eventually fall back and burn up.

If it will fall down, how shall we keep getting pleasure by unliking it?

Edited March 23, 2018 by kerbiloid

[cubinator]

9 hours ago, Green Baron said:

 

In a dark area one already can't watch a quiet sky now. There is sparkling and blinking in the hours before and after sunrise and -set, the inspiration is already there (no offense !). The times of a dark sky are over.

I have a feeling that around the same time that becomes a big issue, you'll probably be able to just go to space for a dark sky experience.

[Green Baron]

Maybe. But that's not as cool romantic as sitting on the patio and watching the satellites stars.

And it is already an issue. How big ... depends on the view.

:-)

[Reactordrone]

Having found out that the tracking on the humanity star website was out by about 15 mins I looked it up on Heavens above the other day (the morning of the 22nd) and caught the humanity star in the early morning. It was mostly very faint with a brief flare for a second or two.

It still seems to be tracking on the humanity star website but isn't listed on heavens above any more.

Edited March 23, 2018 by Reactordrone