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An important event for astronomy begins today: the Science and Technical Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of OuterSpace. ( #COPUOS).
Why is this important for astronomy?
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Why is this important for astronomy?
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The International Astronomical Union @IAU_org along with 5 #COPUOS Members (Chile, Ethiopia, Jordan, Slovakia, Spain) will submit a paper that makes recommendations to protect our Dark and Quiet Skies for the benefit of humanity. 2/...
We aim that astronomy can co-exist with exciting technological developments in the space sector, and humankind in general. We are asking for a political committment from COPUOS members to recognise that dark and quiet skies is an issue for COPUOS to take onboard. 3/...
Previously, threats to astronomy were mainly local, but with the addition of 10,000s of satellites and growing cities spreading light polllution far, we can& #39;t rely on locally agreed radio quiet zones and dark-sky ordinances. 4/...
On the topic of #satelliteconstellations we& #39;ve had positive interaction with industry and found practical solutions. We can take this approach with 5, maybe 10 individual companies, but it& #39;s not a sustainable approach in the long-term. 5/....
We have a situation where the activities of a single private company or single government in space can have #global #impact. This indicates the need for #global guidelines and thinking on how to have #sustainable space activities. #LTS. 6/...
For this reason @IAU_org with the mandate of #COPUOS & @UNOOSA support made a study with the input of 100s of experts and a conference in Oct 2020. The report details policy recommendation on light pollution, radio astronomy & satellite constellations https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann21002/">https://www.iau.org/news/anno... 7/..
The recommendations are summarised in the UN paper. Behind the scenes we& #39;ve been working to contact COPUOS delegations. Many countries will either voice support for the recommendations, or suggest that COPUOS should adopt the topic in the future! https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> 8/... https://www.unoosa.org/res/oosadoc/data/documents/2021/aac_105c_12021crp/aac_105c_12021crp_17_0_html/AC105_C1_2021_CRP17E.pdf">https://www.unoosa.org/res/oosad...
. @ESO has been part of this working group and as observers of #COPUOS, have been using our networks to raise awareness of the issue and support working groups in a Member States to study the subject. 9/...
The UN Committee is livestreamed here: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/stsc/2021/index.html">https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/o... The @IAU_org presentation is due for the Thu 22 AM session. See also a technical presentation by Connie Walker on Wed 21 AM session. https://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/copuos/stsc/2021/Technical_Presentation_List_-_2021_STSC.pdf">https://www.unoosa.org/documents... 10/...
If #COPUOS takes up the subject, then we have a truly global forumlooking at how to implement these recommendations in national and international regulation and guidlines #sciencepolicy #SciPol #Sciencediplomacy 11/...
Here is a shout-out to all who participated in this work @RobertMMassey @giulianarotola @FedeDiVruno @astrokiwi @merrdiff @moribajah @melipalSC @esa @ESO @JohnBarentine @clmuddjr and many more without twitter accounts! 12/...End
At #COPUOS - #NobelLaureate @DidierQueloz presents the importance of the #global nature of the impact of satellite constellation on our #darksky and on #astronomy, and the need for global solutions.
Update from Monday 19 April session of #STSC #COPUOS
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Austria https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇦🇹" title="Flagge von Österreich" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Österreich">, Germany https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇩🇪" title="Flagge von Deutschland" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Deutschland"> and Switzerlandhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇭" title="Flagge der Schweiz" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge der Schweiz">recognise the importance of our #DarkandQuietSkies project in their national statements
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">The @IAU_org presentation should take place on 21 Apr in the morning session.
Update from Tue 20 April session of #STSC #COPUOS
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Finland https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇫🇮" title="Flagge von Finnland" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Finnland"> welcomes the @IAU_org paper
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Belgium https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇧🇪" title="Flagge von Belgien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Belgien"> expresses concern about the preservation of the night sky
Join us at 10:00 CEST 21 April for a technical presentation of our policy recommendations https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/stsc/2021/index.html">https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/o...
Join us at 10:00 CEST 21 April for a technical presentation of our policy recommendations https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/copuos/stsc/2021/index.html">https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/o...
Fantastic presentation today at #STSC #COPUOS from Dr Connie Walker, @IAU_org representative, on the details of the policy recommendations from the #DarkandQuietSkies workshop
Main #policy recommendations:
-Encourage #collaboration & #stewardship of the #nightsky
-Formulate satellite licensing requirements, guidelines & standards to account for impacts on astronomy
-Support the development of space domain decision intellitegence (incl. data sharing)
-Encourage #collaboration & #stewardship of the #nightsky
-Formulate satellite licensing requirements, guidelines & standards to account for impacts on astronomy
-Support the development of space domain decision intellitegence (incl. data sharing)
Operator recommendations:
-Minimise orbital altitude, # satellites & time in orbit when not active
-Reduce brightness to below unaided eye visibility and 7th mag at 550km for observatories
-Avoid direct & indirect illumination of radio observatories
-Minimise orbital altitude, # satellites & time in orbit when not active
-Reduce brightness to below unaided eye visibility and 7th mag at 550km for observatories
-Avoid direct & indirect illumination of radio observatories
Finally - the specific objective of our actions at UN #COPUOS .
The #DarkandQuietSkies conference is being planned for October 2021 in La Palma, hosted by @IAC_Astrofisica
The #DarkandQuietSkies conference is being planned for October 2021 in La Palma, hosted by @IAC_Astrofisica
Update from Wed 21 April session of #STSC #COPUOS
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">IAU presentation of the CRP
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Romania https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇷🇴" title="Flagge von Rumänien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Rumänien">, Chile https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇨🇱" title="Flagge von Chile" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Chile">, Australia https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇦🇺" title="Flagge von Australien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Australien"> note the importance of astronomy in their national statements
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen"> Chile makes statement supporting IAU proposal for a new #STSC agenda item on #DarkandQuietSkies
