Coating satellites with super-black paint Vantablack could help fight light pollution crisis

[Admin]

Light streaks caused by passing satellites mar images taken by the world's most expensive telescopes. The problem is set to get worse.

Coating satellites with super-black paint Vantablack could help fight light pollution crisis : Read more

 

[Classical Motion]

Wouldn’t this just turn a white streak into a black streak?

 

[kitanaor]

Do you have ANY idea why black paint is a terrible idea? Do you like solar panels overheating? Computer components over-heating??? Reflective foil is used to DEFLECT sunlight. Black paint ABSORBS heat. I cannot believe this article was published. You look ridiculous.

 

[Helio]

Wouldn’t this just turn a white streak into a black streak?

The problem has been overexposure of images by bright satellite streaks. Dark streaks would have no effect for the long exposures.

 

[Classical Motion]

It would depend on what one is measuring. A dark blockage can be just as damaging as a bright blockage. It hides what's behind it. Limits the whole. Gives a false average.

 

[Helio]

Do you have ANY idea why black paint is a terrible idea? Do you like solar panels overheating? Computer components over-heating??? Reflective foil is used to DEFLECT sunlight. Black paint ABSORBS heat. I cannot believe this article was published. You look ridiculous.

Has black paint be used in the past? Yes it has. Black paint does, admittedly, absorb light but it is a far better radiator as well. So some space scopes have made use of black paint. I can't see it is better, but maybe it performs well enough and at a much lower cost, perhaps.