Satellite is next to sun and moon the brightest object in the sky

In addition to the sun and the moon, a small Russian satellite will become the brightest object in the sky. The mini-satellite is designed to direct satellite and other terrestrial scrap from Earth orbit to the earth's atmosphere, where it is subsequently to burn.

The criticism is great, but the satellite has an important task to fulfill.

Moscow, Russia). The small Russian satellite with the name Mayak is to clean up in the earth orbit. Basically a good thing, because rocket launching is more difficult due to the numerous orbiting parts in orbit from year to year. Nevertheless, the mini-satellite reaps ample criticism from astronomers from all over the world, because beside the sun and the moon, Mayak will be the brightest object in the sky - which makes earth-based astronomical observations more difficult.

The so-called microsatellite is only as big as a shoe box, but once placed in position, it unfolds an approximately 16 square meter large and tetrahedron-shaped umbrella which reflects the sunlight extremely. Mayak is probably brighter than Venus at the afterthimmel and next to sun and moon the third brightest object in the sky.

The satellite, which has also been financed by a 30,000 US dollar Crowdfunding campaign, will circling around the earth at an altitude of approximately 600 kilometers and will test a new system that will be used to safely dispose of the space shuttle. Mayak is soon to direct targeted satellites to the atmosphere, where they should then burn.

New star

Unofficially speaking, experts are already talking about a new star in post-heaven. Only that this is not a so-called Nova, but an artificial, man-made object in the earth's orbit. Experts estimate its magnitude between -3.6 and -10. Thus, Mayak could shine brighter than the Venus - but would definitely be the fourth brightest object in the sky.