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arXiv · 2210.17268

Visual Brightness Characteristics of Starlink Generation 1 Satellites

Anthony Mallama·Jay Respler
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Abstract

A large dataset of visual magnitudes for all three designs of Starlink satellites is analyzed. Brightness phase functions are derived for the Original, VisorSat and Post-VisorSat models. Similarities and differences between the functions for these spacecraft are noted. A metric called the characteristic magnitude is defined as the average brightness of a satellite when seen overhead at the end of astronomical twilight. When the phase functions are evaluated according to this metric, the characteristic magnitudes are: Original, 4.7; VisorSat, 6.2; and Post-VisorSat, 5.5.

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Anthony Mallama, Jay Respler. 2022-10-31. Visual Brightness Characteristics of Starlink Generation 1 Satellites. https://arxiv.org/abs/2210.17268

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