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1. Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2023 03:12:50 UTC Prof. Sam Lawler

   COOL! The spicy article I wrote about satellite pollution is FINALLY published! "Bright satellites are disrupting astronomy research worldwide" in Nature News & Views.

   This article required weeks of back-and-forth with the editor, the editor-in-chief, and Nature's lawyers, so I hope that means it's a good one.

   During this process, I learned that satellite companies are so powerful and litigious that even giant publishers like Nature are terrified of getting sued. Which is...rather worrying.

   • Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2023 03:12:48 UTC Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     Hey cool, apparently when you write something for Nature they send you a free paper copy! Kinda neat to see my name in there.

     I sincerely hope my article makes someone in power think a little harder about the lack of regulations in orbit (but I'm not holding my breath...I'll keep fighting)

     The free link to read the article is a couple posts up-thread, if you are interested and haven't already read it.

   • Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2023 03:12:49 UTC Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     Paywalled article here, I'll share once I have a non-paywalled link (hopefully soon): https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03610-5

     The summary: astronomers spent a lot of time asking SpaceX and other large satellite operators to pretty please make their satellites fainter and/or use fewer satellites. And then BlueWalker 3 was launched by some tiny company and is one of the brightest things in the sky. Asking nicely isn't working: international regulation and pollution penalties are needed.

   • Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2023 03:12:49 UTC Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     Free author link here! https://rdcu.be/drQOU

   • Prof. Sam Lawler (sundogplanets@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 20-Dec-2023 03:12:49 UTC Prof. Sam Lawler

     in reply to

     Just got an email from first Nature editor I talked to about writing this piece, and they thanked me for writing it and apologized for the fact that my rage got toned-down by Nature's lawyers. Interesting!

     Ended by saying that they are glad they're retiring soon because they are scared that ground-based astronomy will be dead in 5 years and I should keep fighting.

     That's high in the running for the most depressing conclusion to an email I've ever received. Wow.

     Wonderskeptic repeated this.