Amazon Leo satellites exceed brightness standards, study finds

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Astronomers at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky found that new Amazon Leo satellites exceed recommended brightness and could disrupt astronomical research. With Leo, “92% exceeded the brightness limit recommended by the IAU for interference with research, while 25% distract from aesthetic appreciation of the night sky,” the study concluded. Amazon’s plan to lower Leo satellites to 590 km could partially address the issue. “They also distract from aesthetic appreciation of the night sky,” he added. Not an isolated instanceLeo’s brightness problem is not an isolated instance.