A telescope might spend hours collecting the faint light of a distant galaxy, then a satellite crosses its field of view within seconds, leaving a bright streak that could spoil the image.
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With the increasing number of satellites in low Earth orbit, researchers from the University of Warwick in Britain are working on developing a "retinal"-like camera that can detect moving objects and alert the telescope before they enter its field of view.
The idea comes at a time when data from the European Space Agency – in June last year – indicates that there are about 18,340 satellites in orbit, including about 16,000 that are still operational.
Despite the important role these satellites play in communications, the internet, positioning, weather forecasting and Earth observation, their increasing density has become a growing challenge for astronomy, especially surveys that capture long-exposure images of large areas of the sky.
A crowded sky threatens images of the universe
The problem is not limited to the lines that appear in astronomical images, as satellites also emit radio signals, adding another form of light pollution, which makes their impact extend across different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Mike Bell, a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London, said during the British National Astronomical Meeting 2026 that Starlink satellites are becoming visible almost everywhere, describing the problem as extending across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
Astronomers and satellite companies have attempted to mitigate the problem by reducing satellite reflectivity and improving tracking systems, but these solutions are still imperfect. Satellite movements can vary, and adherence to voluntary measures differs among companies, making reliance on tracking data alone insufficient in some cases.
A camera that works like a retina
James Blake, a space researcher at the University of Warwick, is leading a team developing a "neural camera" that uses a method completely different from traditional digital cameras. Ordinary cameras capture entire frames at specific intervals, recording data for each image unit, even when no change is occurring.
The new camera works in a way similar to the retina, where pixels only detect changes in light intensity. Therefore, fixed stars produce very little data, while the passage of a moving satellite results in a rapid series of signals that map its path across the sky.
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