THE NIGHT IS NOT FOR SALE
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SCIENCE UPDATE September 2026: atmospheric-scattering research is now listed in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Read the findings and their limits. Read more →
A CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN

The Night
Is Not For Sale

A COMPANY HAS BEEN AUTHORISED TO TEST REFLECTING SUNLIGHT ONTO EARTH AFTER DARK. WHO GETS TO DECIDE HOW OUR SHARED NIGHT SKY IS CHANGED?

Earendil-1 is an authorised demonstration satellite, not an approved commercial constellation. We call for independent environmental, astronomical and safety assessments, and democratic rules, before commercial orbital illumination changes the night we share.

✦ SIGN THE PETITION → ▷ LEARN THE FACTS
👥 Support the international petition. Add your voice.

Why this matters

Our natural night sky is essential for life, science, ecosystems and human well-being.

ASTRONOMY

We risk losing our view of the Universe.

Artificial light at night can overwhelm telescopes, saturate cameras and blind astronomers. Our ability to explore the Universe is at risk.

Learn more →
WILDLIFE

Night ecosystems depend on darkness.

Millions of species rely on natural night cycles. Light pollution disrupts behaviour, migration, reproduction and survival.

Learn more →
HUMAN HEALTH

Night-time light can affect sleep and circadian rhythms.

The effects depend on intensity, spectrum, timing and duration. Orbital reflected sunlight is a new exposure that requires independent study.

Learn more →
The central issue: no private company should be able to alter the shared night sky before independent environmental, astronomical and safety assessments — and democratic rules — are in place.
THE REAL RISK ISN'T ONE MIRROR

One test today.
A constellation tomorrow.

This licence covers one demonstration satellite. The company has discussed tens of thousands of mirrors, but that constellation has not been authorised. Independent assessment must consider cumulative effects before any expansion. People affected by changes to the shared sky cannot individually opt out.

See what's at stake, in detail →
ASTRONOMY

A brighter sky hides the faint Universe.

Astronomy depends on detecting extremely faint light against the darkest possible background. Orbital reflectors would not only cross telescope images: scattered light could brighten the sky even when a mirror is not aimed directly at an observatory.

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Higher background brightnessESO modelling estimates that a full 50,000-reflector constellation could make the night sky three to four times brighter overall.
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Lost or contaminated observationsBright reflections can saturate detectors, create trails and scattered light, and make faint galaxies, asteroids and transient events harder to detect.
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Professional and amateur scienceAmateur astronomers also contribute observations of comets, variable stars, occultations and near-Earth objects.
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Visual and instrument safetyThe AAS has asked for photobiological and operational assessment of direct viewing through binoculars or telescopes and sudden bright-light exposure.
The 50,000-reflector constellation has not been authorised. The concern is that approving a demonstration without optical environmental review creates a precedent before cumulative effects are governed.
ESO modelling ↗AAS filing ↗
WILDLIFE

Night is habitat, not empty time.

Darkness is an environmental condition to which life has adapted over billions of years. Artificial light at night can alter behaviour and biological timing across species.

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Navigation and migrationBirds, insects and other animals use celestial and light cues. Artificial light can disorient movement and attract animals away from natural routes.
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Feeding and predator–prey relationshipsIllumination can change when animals forage, hide or hunt, potentially reshaping food-web interactions.
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Reproduction and seasonal timingLight is a biological clock signal. Changes in nighttime light can affect circadian and seasonal behaviours linked to breeding and development.
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A new, poorly studied exposureMoving reflected sunlight from orbit differs from street lighting. Its spectrum, direction, duration and geographical reach require specific study.
Science establishes that artificial light at night is an ecological stressor. It does not yet quantify the consequences of commercial orbital illumination — which is why independent assessment is needed.
Wildlife review ↗DarkSky overview ↗
HUMAN HEALTH & SAFETY

Light affects us — but exposure details matter.

Human circadian rhythms and sleep respond to light. The effect depends on intensity, spectrum, timing, duration and direct viewing. Orbital reflected sunlight has not been independently characterised as a real-world nighttime exposure.

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Circadian timing and sleepNighttime light can alter circadian rhythms and sleep. It would be premature to claim a specific health outcome from orbital illumination without exposure measurements.
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Glare and sudden visual disruptionRegulatory submissions have raised concern about temporary visual disruption for pilots and drivers under worst-case brightness and geometry.
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Viewing through opticsBinoculars and telescopes collect light. AAS requested assessment of eye-safety risks for direct or unexpected viewing through optical instruments.
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Failure and mispointing scenariosSafety analysis should include pointing errors, loss of communication, cyber-security, atmospheric scattering and visibility outside the target area.
The responsible claim is not that orbital illumination is already proven to cause illness. It is that its exposure profile and safety margins were not independently evaluated before the first demonstration was authorised.
Human light & sleep review ↗Review request ↗
18 × 18 m
MIRROR SIZE

The demonstration satellite carries an 18 × 18 m reflector. Future designs may be larger.

Up to 5 km
ILLUMINATED AREA

A single mirror can create a bright spot up to 5 km wide. [2]

50,000+
PLANNED MIRRORS

The company has discussed deploying tens of thousands of satellites. [3]

Shared
A SHARED SKY

Natural darkness is a shared resource. Decisions about it require public accountability.

Be part of the movement

Add your voice. Sign the petition.

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Authorisation and review

On 9 July 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission authorised the Earendil-1 demonstration satellite and its radio operations. No federal environmental review independently assessed the optical effects of its reflector.

The approval applies to one demonstration satellite. It does not authorise a full commercial constellation.

ESTABLISHED

One demonstration satellite has received radio authorisation.

COMPANY PLAN

Test orbital illumination and pursue a much larger commercial system.

NOT AUTHORISED

No 50,000-satellite constellation has been approved.

Who regulates the night sky?

Existing rules focus mainly on radio frequencies, launch safety and debris. Optical effects remain weakly governed internationally. That gap — not one company — is the central policy problem.

How we got here

2024
Reflect Orbital publicises “sunlight on demand.”
Early 2026
Astronomers and citizens object.
9 Jul 2026
FCC authorises Earendil-1 and its radio operations.
6 Aug 2026
Environmental and dark-sky organisations ask the full FCC to review and reverse the approval.
2026
Demonstration launch planned.
~2035
A much larger constellation has been discussed, but not approved.

Sources checked: 10 October 2026

Science and oversight: October 2026 update

Scattered light extends beyond the target

The study by Kocifaj, Bakos and Kundracik is listed in The Astrophysical Journal Letters (September 2026). It models atmospheric scattering and light reflected from the ground, finding effects extending roughly 30 km from an illuminated area under the conditions studied.

These are model predictions, not measurements from an operating system. The widely reported result of around 40 times the full Moon’s apparent brightness concerns a proposed 54 m mirror viewed within its beam, not the 18 m Earendil-1 demonstration. Mirror size, atmosphere, ground reflectivity and viewing geometry matter.

Published-study reference →

Read the modelling →

The approval has been challenged

On 6 August 2026, DarkSky International and allied environmental organisations, represented by Earthjustice, requested reversal of the approval. Their fallback proposal sets out 16 binding safeguards if the licence stands.

Requested safeguards include independent light-scattering and safety assessments; advance public illumination schedules; exclusions for protected habitats and buffers around observatories; consultation and consent from affected governments; independent brightness monitoring; and suspension and fail-safe procedures.

These conditions have been requested; they are not presented here as adopted rules.

Read the review request and safeguards →

In the public sources checked on 10 October, we did not find a confirmed launch announcement or an outcome of the FCC review. This is a limit of our verification, not proof that no development has occurred.

About this campaign

The Night Is Not For Sale is an independent citizens’ campaign calling for protection of natural darkness. We ask for independent assessments, transparent public consultation and accountable rules before commercial orbital illumination proceeds. Citing scientific organisations does not imply their endorsement of this campaign.

Write to your representative

Adapt the template, add your name and address, and send it to your elected representative. Please use your own experience and concerns.

English letter template
Dear [MP’s name], I am a constituent concerned about proposals to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night using orbital mirrors. Natural darkness supports astronomy, wildlife and human well-being. Please ask the Government to seek independent environmental, astronomical and safety assessments, transparent public consultation and international rules before commercial deployment. Assessments should cover cumulative effects, scattered light, protected habitats and public notification, rather than considering each satellite in isolation. Please let me know the Government’s position and what action you can take. Yours sincerely, [Name and postal address]
Modèle de lettre en français
Madame la Députée, Monsieur le Député, Habitant de votre circonscription, je suis préoccupé par les projets de miroirs orbitaux destinés à réfléchir la lumière du Soleil vers la Terre la nuit. L’obscurité naturelle est essentielle à l’astronomie, à la biodiversité et au bien-être humain. Je vous demande d’interroger le Gouvernement sur sa position et de soutenir des évaluations environnementales, astronomiques et de sécurité indépendantes, une consultation publique transparente et un encadrement international avant tout déploiement commercial. Ces évaluations devraient couvrir les effets cumulatifs, la lumière diffusée, les habitats protégés et l’information du public. Je vous remercie de m’indiquer les démarches que vous pourrez entreprendre. Cordialement, [Nom et adresse]

Take action

EVERYONE

Sign and share

Support the international petition started by Ana Ivkovic, independently of this campaign. Sign on Change.org →

UNITED KINGDOM

Write to your MP

Ask the Government to raise orbital illumination internationally. Find your MP →

AMPLIFY

Tell the story

Contact a journalist, astronomy club or environmental organisation.

Get in touch

Questions, press enquiries, or want to help the campaign? Send us a message and we'll reply by email.

  • PRESS Journalists welcome — we can provide sources and comment.
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Our night sky.
Our heritage.
Our future.

It has inspired humanity for millennia. It belongs to all of us — and to those who will come after us.

Let's protect it before it's too late.

Scientific sources
Transparent information
Global solidarity
Democratic decision

Sources

  1. US Federal Communications Commission — Earendil-1 authorisation, 9 July 2026.
  2. DarkSky International — application for FCC review of the Earendil-1 approval, 6 August 2026.
  3. European Southern Observatory — modelling of the astronomical impact of orbital reflectors.
  4. AAS and scientific organisations — environmental, astronomical and safety concerns regarding Earendil-1.
  5. Kocifaj, Bakos & Kundracik — atmospheric-scattering study, August preprint; journal publication listed September 2026.
  6. Russart & Nelson — artificial light at night and wildlife behaviour.
  7. Blume et al. — light, circadian rhythms, sleep and mood.