Imagine a night sky that is no longer dark, but partially illuminated by artificial “moonlight”, it sounds like science fiction. However, this is exactly what the small Californian company Reflect Orbital is planning: by 2030, it wants to launch as many as 4,000 large space mirrors that would reflect sunlight to specific regions on Earth during the night.
The mirrors would be huge: up to 55 meters in diameter and would orbit along the terminator, the boundary between day and night. The goal is simple: to provide light where there is otherwise darkness, in order to save energy and increase safety in rural areas.
The first mirror, EARENDIL-1, is scheduled to launch in April 2026. During the tests, people on Earth would be able to see it as a “bright moving star”.
Giant space mirrors could change the night on Earth forever
However, while the company claims that the reflected light will be gentle like moonlight, the professional community warns that the consequences can be much more serious.
Why astronomers and biologists are raising the alarm
The minimal illumination from the ground seems harmless, but astronomers and biologists warn that the project could have profound negative consequences:
1. The sky becomes crowded
The satellite boom is already straining the planet’s orbit.
– 2019: 2,000 satellites
– 2025: ~15,000 satellites
– 2040 (projection): 560,000 satellites
Adding 4,000 mirrors dramatically increases the risk of collisions and creating space debris.
2. Huge growth of light pollution
Astronomers need darkness to observe supernovae, asteroids and other important phenomena. Such mirrors could leave a “light trail” visible hundreds of kilometers away, which would make astronomical observations around the world difficult.
3. Impact on nature and the human organism
Reflected light can be four times stronger than the full moonwhich affects:
– birds in migration,
– nocturnal animals,
– insects,
– plants sensitive to the length of the night,
– human circadian rhythm and sleep.
The company claims that “the light beam will be narrow and precisely directed,” but astronomers warn that the mirrors will be clearly visible much further away as extremely bright, fast-moving points in the sky.
If the project succeeds, the night will never look the same again. The question is: do we want such a future? Light pollution is already affecting human health, loss of nocturnal ecosystems and astronomy. This project opens a serious discussion about who has the right to “illuminate” the planet and what consequences it can have, writes UnionRayo.