arXiv:2407.03092astro-ph.IM
Brightness Characterization for Starlink Direct-to-Cell Satellites
Early discovery. Linked by one identifiable commenter. This paper is outside the main ranking; a mention is not an endorsement.
Abstract
The mean apparent magnitude of Starlink Mini Direct-To-Cell (DTC) satellites is 4.62 while the mean of magnitudes adjusted to a uniform distance of 1000 km is 5.50. DTCs average 4.9 times brighter than other Starlink Mini spacecraft at a common distance. We cannot currently separate the effects of the DTC antenna itself, the different attitude modes that may be required for DTC operations and to what extent brightness mitigation procedures were in place at the times of our observations. In a best case scenario, where DTC brightness mitigation is as successful as that for other Minis and the DTC antenna does not add significantly to brightness, we estimate that DTCs will be about 2.6 times as bright as the others based upon their lower altitudes. The DTCs spend a greater fraction of their time in the Earth's shadow than satellites at higher altitudes. That will offset some of their impact on astronomical observing.
Took me a moment to parse the article and find a link to the study, here it is: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.03092.
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I'm curious if SpaceX has applied those mitigation techniques yet. I could maybe understand not doing it for the initial test batch of 6 DTC satellites, but they've been continuing to launch more, and they should be taking at least some action by now, like those "routine…
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