The scientists say that the new generation of Starlink satellites, which provide fast internet around the world, are interfering more with telescopes.

科學家們說，新一代 "星鏈"（Starlink）衛星在全球範圍內提供快速互聯網，對望遠鏡的干擾越來越大。

They say the thousands of orbiting spacecraft may be hindering astronomical research, while SpaceX, which owns them, hasn't commented.

他們說，數以千計的軌道航天器可能會阻礙天文研究，而擁有這些航天器的 SpaceX 公司則未對此發表評論。

With me is Dr Emma Gatti, a former NASA scientist and editor at Spacewatch Global.

和我在一起的是艾瑪-加蒂博士，她曾是美國國家航空航天局的科學家，也是《全球太空觀察》的編輯。

Thanks for joining us.

感謝您的參與。

How much of a problem is this?

問題有多大？

Well, it is a problem.

嗯，這是個問題。

It is a problem because radio astronomy especially relies on the ability to see stars very far away, very far distant from us.

這是一個問題，因為射電天文學尤其依賴於觀測距離我們非常遙遠的恆星的能力。

And with all these satellites, they're basically blinded because the satellites are so much closer to Earth than what they're trying to observe.

有了這些衛星，他們基本上就看不見了，因為衛星離地球比他們要觀測的東西近得多。

So it is a problem indeed, absolutely.

所以，這確實是個問題，絕對是個問題。

But obviously the satellites have a function in terms of providing fast internet, often to troubled parts of the world.

但衛星顯然有提供快速互聯網的功能，通常是向世界上的動盪地區提供快速互聯網。

How could this be sorted out?

如何解決這個問題？

Should it be regulated?

是否應該對其進行監管？

Is it regulated?

它受管制嗎？

So it's a kind of complex answer because what is regulated is the fact that satellites cannot transmit in certain bands.

是以，這是一個有點複雜的答案，因為受管制的是衛星不能在某些頻段上發射。

So certain bands, radio bands, are completely off for satellites.

是以，某些頻段、無線電頻段對衛星來說是完全禁用的。

So theoretically these bands are reserved for science.

是以，從理論上講，這些波段是為科學保留的。

The problem is that we have so many satellites that they kind of emit as a sort of mistake.

問題是，我們有如此多的衛星，它們的發射就像是一種錯誤。

So it's not the satellites that is emitting, because theoretically it cannot, but all the equipment, all the electrical circuits in the satellites are kind of producing a backdrop of emission.

是以，不是衛星在發射，因為理論上它不可能發射，而是衛星上的所有設備、所有電路都在產生髮射背景。

And this is impossible to regulate.

而這是無法監管的。

They cannot stop it.

他們無法阻止。

And this is where the problem arises.

問題就出在這裡。

So it's a kind of like secondary effect.

是以，這是一種類似於次級效應的效果。

Okay.

好的

And so what sort of research is not being able to be carried out as a result?

那麼，什麼樣的研究會是以而無法開展呢？

The entire field of radio astronomy is struggling completely because we are at the moment having 11,000 satellites and they are really struggling.

整個射電天文學領域都在苦苦掙扎，因為我們現在有 11,000 顆衛星，它們真的在苦苦掙扎。

And we plan to have 100,000 satellites in 10 years.

我們計劃在 10 年內擁有 10 萬顆衛星。

So you can imagine that this means fundamentally a complete stop at the entire field of radio astronomy.

是以可以想象，這意味著整個射電天文學領域從根本上徹底停滯了。

Radio astronomy is that kind of astronomy that is using radio frequencies to observe the farthest object in our universe.

射電天文學是一種利用射電頻率觀測宇宙中最遙遠天體的天文學。

So that's an entire field of science that is struggling and we struggle even more.

是以，整個科學領域都在苦苦掙扎，我們更是如此。

Okay.

好的

And just explain for us what a satellite is.

給我們解釋一下什麼是衛星。

We're seeing some fly by and you say that they sort of blind the researchers and therefore they can't see.

我們看到一些東西飛過，你說它們會遮住研究人員的眼睛，是以他們看不見。

Is it as simple as that?

事情就這麼簡單嗎？

I'm sure it's not.

我肯定不是。

So there are two ways in which a satellite can disturb.

是以，衛星有兩種干擾方式。

It can visually disturb because the satellite itself is not a bright object.

由於衛星本身並不是一個明亮的物體，是以會對視覺造成干擾。

It doesn't have any light.

它沒有光。

But if it gets hit by the sun, it becomes bright.

但如果它被太陽照射，就會變得明亮。

So it can disturb what we call visual astronomy.

是以，它會干擾我們所說的視覺天文學。

But then it can also disturb through radio emissions.

不過，它也會通過無線電發射進行干擾。

So yes, several ways to disturb.

所以，是的，有幾種干擾方式。

Emma Gatti, I'm so sorry, I asked you a really big question and I only have 30 seconds so that was entirely my fault.

艾瑪-加蒂，非常抱歉，我問了你一個非常大的問題，而我只有 30 秒鐘的時間，所以這完全是我的錯。

But thank you so much for talking us through it.

不過，還是非常感謝你能和我們一起討論這個問題。

It's a really complex area.

這是一個非常複雜的領域。

There's a great piece online if people want to find out a bit more.

如果大家想了解更多資訊，網上有一篇很好的文章。