The impact of satellite constellations on Australian astronomy    

Supervisor(s): Dr Caroline Foster (Senior Lecturer, UNSW Sydney) and Mr Duncan Blake (Lecturer, UNSW Canberra)

Project description:

This inter-disciplinary project involves joining the combined effort of the Centre for the protection of the dark and quiet Sky from satellite constellation interference (CPS, https://cps.iau.org/) group of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). This international group is hoping to quantify the impact of the fast-growing international space industry on society and astronomy. There is currently little data being collated for Australia. The project aims to fill this gap by collecting data from the community, including professional and amateur astronomers to quantify the impact of satellite constellations on radio and optical astronomy in Australia.

Australia has invested heavily in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and other next generation astronomy facilities. The data are readily available, however communication with various stakeholders, collation and analysis will form the core of this projects.

The results of this thesis will help national governments and international organisations to make evidence-based decisions about regulating and mitigating the impact of satellite constellations on society and astronomy.

Dr Foster's mentoring and supervising style is student-led. She guides students to develop the ability to independently direct and take ownership of their own learning. Developing the necessary skills to learn independently is an important aspect of university training. The ability to learn even when a path has not yet been forged is a highly sought-after and transferrable skill in innovation-driven fields. As such, Dr Foster encourages her students to formulate questions, look for answers and critically evaluate those answers.

Other skills students are expected to develop as part of this project include:

  • Effective communication and advocacy across a broad range of stakeholders, including scientists, industry and policymakers.
  • Image analysis and handling of astronomical optical and radio data; and
  • Broad understanding of the space and astronomy domains.

Other opportunities:

PhD candidates will have collaborative opportunities with national and international collaborators, travel opportunities, a generous stipend and additional research support opportunities as part of my ARC grants.

Feedback on past students’ experience:

“Thank you for taking me on board, guiding me through the basics, finer details, and politics of extragalactic astrophysics, and for your support and encouragement every step of the way. You have certainly set the bar very high for when I look for a thesis supervisor.” (summer intern)

“I really enjoyed the project – this has been my favourite subject at uni so far! I liked reading and learning about other people’s research; I enjoyed developing my programming skills; I liked thinking about the significance of the plots I had constructed and the results I had obtained.” (undergraduate project student)

“I loved that at no point did you ‘spoon feed’ the students, but rather point them towards relevant literature and allow them to lead the conversation with specific questions. I think [student] benefited most from this as it required [them] to be proactive and take greater responsibility for the development of [their] project. A great collaborative approach to mentorship.” (High school students’ teacher)"

Small-Magellanic-Cloud

Composite Baader R, G, B, Ha, Oiii image of the Small Magellanic Cloud taken using the ChileScope’s FLI microline 162000 Filters camera (mount: 10micron GM1000HPSOTA, Nikon 200mm f/2 lens) before removing satellite contamination. Thankfully, using multiple exposures, the satellite contamination can be removed. Unfortunately, the data under the tracks are lost on this exposure. As more satellite constellations get deployed, proportionally more data will be lost and their impact will compound. Very bright satellites can also saturate detectors, causing further data loss.

Credit: ShaRA Team (Ravagnin, Anfuso, Lioce, Trabuio, Maffioli, Curzi, Vergani, Zanetti), ChileScope, Rio Hurtado, Chile