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Giant mirrors in space to reflect sunlight at night? No thank you, astronomers say.
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www.cbc.ca Nov 15, 2025Tildes

Summary

Reflect Orbital is looking to send giant mirrors in space to “sell sunlight after dark.”

It’s a plan that’s causing alarm among astronomers who are already concerned about the loss of the night sky due to satellite constellations — hundreds to thousands of satellites belonging to one company, most often providing internet services — and overall light pollution.

…

Aaron Boley, an astronomer and professor at the University of British Columbia, said there are "basic misunderstandings or willful misrepresentations" on the company's website.

"They were talking about reducing light pollution by having this giant light from space. And it really seems like they're trying to suggest that because it's natural sunlight, it's not like pollution.”

The company — which filed a request with the U.S. the Federal Communication Commission to launch its first satellite, EARENDIL-1 — is proposing using the satellites to beam down reflected sunlight on specific locations, such as solar farms after the sun has set.