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The IAU Centre for the Protection of
the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS)
coordinates collaborative multidisciplinary international efforts with
institutions and individuals and works across multiple geographic
areas to help mitigate the negative impact of satellite constellations
on ground-based optical and radio astronomy observations as well as on
humanity's enjoyment of the night sky.
Astronomers became acutely aware of the impact of satellite
constellations with the launch of the first 60 Starlink satellites in
May 2019. Thereafter, 150 experts from astronomy, industry, space
policy and the wider community conducted months of research before
presenting and then publishing on the impact of satellite
constellations on astronomy to identify the issues and formulate
recommendations toward mitigation. Stakeholders extend beyond
astronomers and the satellite industry and include planetarium
operators, amateur astronomers, and Indigenous groups. The IAU Centre
was launched last month. The co-hosts of the CPS are the US
National Science Founndation's NOIRLab (the US centre for
ground-based optical astronomy), and the SKA Observatory (SKAO).
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