Amateur astronomers and astrophotographers may need to exercise great caution when enormous reflecting satellites start appearing in the night sky — as experts say they have the potential to blind them. Last month, PetaPixel reported that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Reflect Orbital’s application to launch a mirror satellite into orbit called Eärendil-1. Potential Harm to Astronomers and AstrophotographersIn its filing to the FCC, Reflect Orbital acknowledged that astronomers who catch sight of one of their satellites through a 12-inch telescope could suffer serious eye damage. Back in 2000, when Russia was experimenting with a similar satellite program, scientists warned that the satellites posed a similar level of risk to looking directly at the Sun. When The Verge put these concerns to Reflect Orbital, the California-based firm echoed the FCC’s position, extolling the benefits of the technology.