- cross-posted to:
- globalnews@lemmy.zip
- spaceflight@sh.itjust.works
- cross-posted to:
- globalnews@lemmy.zip
- spaceflight@sh.itjust.works
Summary
The UK’s oldest satellite, Skynet-1A, launched in 1969, has mysteriously shifted from its original orbit over Africa to a high-risk position over the Americas.
It’s suspected that in the 1970s, Skynet-1A was intentionally moved west, possibly by U.S. controllers, but records confirming who made this decision and why are missing.
Now inactive, the satellite poses collision risks to active satellites, as it occupies a congested orbit at 105 degrees West longitude.
The UK may eventually need to consider relocating Skynet-1A or removing it altogether to mitigate risks from space debris.
Never underestimate how far amateur radio telescope operators will go for a clean sky.
Amateur radio astronomy is really cool. I was into optical telescopes for a long time, I used to have a really nice 8" Newtonian. But the radio telescope stuff is so complicated. The people doing it just for fun are so smart. I have a lot of respect for them.
It’s a wee bit out of my bailiwick, sad to say. Their “hobby smarts” are my “oh my god this is the most concentration I’ve ever had to use to figure something out smarts” although regular astronomy is a hobby I can never get enough of
All I’ve got for now is a tiny 4in newtonian , and though I do want to upgrade, it’s on the back burner for a few years while all my other expenses are sorted.
Still orders of magnitude better than the refractor I used to have.