IN this podcast we discuss the recent launch of 36 Amazon Project Kuiper satellites aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, marking a major expansion of low Earth orbit (LEO) mega-constellations. This growth introduces a significant "twilight penalty"; because Amazon’s satellites orbit at 630 km—higher than Starlink—they remain illuminated by the sun much longer after sunset, creating persistent bright streaks in astronomical images.

For amateur astronomers, these satellites are described as an "inconvenience fixed by math". By using shorter sub-exposures and pixel rejection algorithms like sigma-clipping, hobbyists can mathematically remove satellite trails from their final stacked images.

In contrast, professional astronomy faces a structural threat. Sensitive facilities like th ...