Amazon's internet-beaming satellites are bright enough to disrupt astronomical research, study finds
A recent study has revealed that Amazon's new internet-beaming megaconstellation in low Earth orbit (LEO) is causing significant concerns for astronomical research. The satellites, part of Amazon's Project Kuiper, exceed the brightness limit recommended by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to ensure the safe coexistence of satellite megaconstellations with astronomical research.
The study, available on the online repository Arxiv on January 12, analyzed nearly 2,000 observations of Amazon Leo satellites. It concluded that the spacecraft are particularly problematic for large-scale astronomical surveys conducted at ground-based observatories, such as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and orbiting observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope.
The lead author, Anthony Mallama, an astronomer at the IAU Center for Protection of the Dark And Quiet Sky, explained that the satellites' brightness can interfere with various types of observations. Mallama and his colleagues have previously studied the brightness of other satellite networks, notably SpaceX's Starlink, which is the largest constellation in orbit with around 9,500 satellites. They also observed the giant BlueBird satellite arrays operated by AST SpaceMobile, which are the brightest artificial objects in the night sky.
However, Amazon Leo satellites are significantly dimmer than BlueBirds and slightly fainter than most Starlink satellites, which orbit at a lower altitude. The Starlink constellation benefits from being in Earth's shadow for most of its orbital time, reducing its obtrusiveness. Future Amazon Leo satellites are expected to orbit at even lower altitudes, increasing their brightness.
John Barentine, an astronomer at the Silverado Hills Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, and a dark sky expert, noted that Amazon Leo satellites appear especially bright during twilight. Amazon began launching its internet constellation in 2025, and while only 180 satellites have been placed into orbit, the company plans to expand the constellation to over 3,200 spacecraft.
Despite the concerns, Mallama praised Amazon for its willingness to engage with astronomers and work on reducing the impact of its satellites on the night skies. The company is implementing methods to make the underside of the spacecraft mirror-like to reflect sunlight into space and orient the satellites' components to avoid sunlit sides being visible to ground observers.
Since the launch of Amazon's first test satellites in 2023, engineers have managed to reduce the amount of light the orbiting satellites reflect to Earth, making them less visible in the night sky. This proactive approach is encouraging, as astronomers have been raising concerns about the impact of satellite megaconstellations on the observations of the universe since the launch of SpaceX's Starlink satellites in 2019.
An earlier report published in November 2025 found that all currently operational internet-beaming constellations, except OneWeb satellites, were exceeding the IAU-recommended brightness limits. This highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing technological advancements with the preservation of dark and quiet skies for astronomical research.
