Astronomers are calling on nations to ban advertising in space that can be seen from the ground, calling it the latest threat to the dark and quiet sky.

WASHINGTON — Astronomers are calling on nations to ban advertising in space that can be seen from the ground, calling it the latest threat to the dark and quiet sky.

At a briefing during the 245th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society earlier this month, the organization rolled out a statement calling for bans on “obtrusive space advertising” because of the interference it could cause for groundbased astronomy.

Obtrusive space advertising is defined in U.S. federal law as “advertising in outer space that is capable of being recognized by a human being on the surface of the Earth without the aid of a telescope or other technological device.” Such advertising is banned in federal law through prohibitions on granting launch licenses for missions carrying payloads to carry out space advertising.

  • Naich@piefed.worldEnglish
    3·
    4 months ago

    I will not buy anything from any company that puts advertising in space. I will also make it my life’s work to persuade everyone else likewise.

    • db_null@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      21·
      4 months ago

      We’re 43 people already, the remaining 95% will continue to buy it anyway because…

      1. It just tastes better
      2. It can’t be that bad
      3. It’s convenient
      4. I’ve always bought that
      5. I have nothing to hide

      Pick as many as you like. More than just dissuading people, I think it’s high time to sabotage and destruct.

  • brap@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    If I see your shit advertised in space I will never buy your product again.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    1·
    4 months ago

    Hey all, after seeing the interest in this thread, I decided to make ads in space the topic of my YT video for the week.

    If you enjoy the video, please let me know what you think.

    • 3abas@lemmy.worldEnglish
      01·
      4 months ago

      They bomb kids daily and you’re complacent, you’re telling me if they added more ads you’re gonna finally revolt?

      I don’t buy it.

      • Leviathan@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        If you had any idea how politically active I am you wouldn’t say something so idiotic. But there you go.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    An older story, I know, but today was the first I heard of space-based advertising, and it made my blood boil a little.

    To be clear, the infuriating part is people trying to put ads in the sky, not the astronomers fighting back, who are in fact awesome.

    • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      01·
      4 months ago

      I don’t think it goes far enough. Satellites should not be allowed to arrange or emit for any aesthetics reason, advertising or not. They should be required to do everything they can to go unseen.

  • Saledovil@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    01·
    4 months ago

    Suggestion: Deploy anti satellite 🛰 weapon, and extort other nations by threatening their satellites in order to pay off the national debt. Somebody get Donald Trump on the phone.

    I’m only half joking. Kessler syndrome is probably going to happen sooner or later anyway. And I do think it would be possible to convince Trump the scheme is a good idea if you had access to him.