One thing about tech you can bet $100 on. There’s always something new, better, faster and begging you to open your wallet. You’ve probably never heard of BlueWalker 3.
This communications satellite orbiting Earth will totally change up the cellular marketplace. For starters, you won’t have to deal with crappy cell phone service or no bars anymore. Love that, don’t you?
I’ve got a payload of a space update with the details you need to know that you will want to tell your family and friends. Plus, I’ve got the scoop on how to catch this month’s Ring of Fire eclipse.
Call me, maybe
Picture this: With the BlueWalker 3 satellite, your trusty smartphone doubles as a satellite phone. Forget about searching for those elusive cell towers! This is a game-changer, especially for rural areas with bad or no internet or cell service.
Currently, it’s the top dog in commercial communications, hovering in low Earth orbit. But hold on to your hats! An even bigger satellite is in the works, thanks to an AT&T-supported venture, AST SpaceMobile.
But, here’s the wrinkle. As exciting as these advancements are, scientists are sounding the alarm. The sky’s getting crowded, and that extra light? It’s making it harder for them to peek into the cosmic mysteries. After all, if a meteor’s zooming our way, it’d be great to get a heads-up, don’t you think?
Star light, star bright
Speaking of space clutter, Elon Musk’s SpaceX just hit 5,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. Not bad, given it started in 2019. Musk has plans to launch a total of at least 12,000 satellites, possibly more. At this rate, there could soon be more Starlink satellites in the sky than visible stars (about 9,000).
I use Starlink as a backup at my home in California and on my boat to get Wi-Fi on the water. Warning: It’s not cheap. Starlink charges $600 for the residential gear to get started, then $110 monthly. It’s more expensive for boats and RVs.
Even with that hefty price tag, Starlink has over 2 million subscribers. They also have plans to partner with T-Mobile, but the project is delayed due to regulatory hold-ups.
As with BlueWalker 3, there are concerns with how Starlink’s thousands of bright lights and signals interfere with scientists’ ability to monitor space happenings. Experts also warn of potential collision hazards. Oof.
Burnin’ ring of fire
Away from satellites and to the stars! Catch the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14. In this weather phenomenon, the moon is the farthest away it can get in its orbit, meaning it won’t completely block out the sun. This creates a halo effect around the moon’s shadow, hence the “Ring of Fire.”
NASA says the eclipse will be visible in all 49 continental U.S. states, including Alaska. Don’t miss it — our nation won’t see another eclipse like this until 2046. Check out NASA’s interactive eclipse map to see if it’ll pass over your town.
NASA will also be livestreaming the event in case you can’t get outside. If you are outside, don’t forget to use special glasses to protect your eyes!
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