Assessing the interference of mega-constellations on ground-based astronomy using MASCARA

Abstract As the number of large Earth-orbiting satellite networks (i.e., mega-constellations or mega-sats) increases, so does the threat posed to astronomical research. Bright satellite trails in exposures of the night sky can affect the quality of observations and hinder science objectives. Using the MASCARA station to detect satellites from the SpaceX Starlink network as a representative case, this study quantifies the present and future impact of mega-sats on ground-based optical astronomy. We find that further design revisions are required to mitigate the brightness concern of pre-Gen2 Starlinks and that hundreds of satellites could be visible in all-sky observations at peak observing times if additional measures are not taken.