Estimating the impact to astronomy from the OneWeb satellite constellation using multicolour observations

Abstract This study addresses the growing concern in the astronomical community regarding the brightness and interference caused by low Earth orbit (LEO) communication satellites. Utilising data from a global network of telescopes and a custom Python pipeline, we analysed 369 observations of 159 OneWeb satellites obtained in the BVRI bandpasses with the Danish 1.54-metre telescope at ESO La Silla, Chile, revealing significant variations in brightness across different wavelengths and a substantial proportion exceeding recommended brightness limits. Our preliminary findings, incorporating diffuse sphere phase models, offer further insights into the satellite’s reflective properties and implications for future astronomical observations.