Gotta wonder about this plan:
Southwestern China’s city of Chengdu plans to launch its illumination satellite, also known as the “artificial moon”, in 2020, according to Wu Chunfeng, chairman of Chengdu Aerospace Science and Technology Microelectronics System Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Wu made the remarks at a national mass innovation and entrepreneurship activity held in Chengdu on Oct. 10.
The illumination satellite is designed to complement the moon at night. Wu introduced that the brightness of the “artificial moon” is eight times that of the real moon, and will be bright enough to replace street lights. [People’s Daily]
First thing that came to mind was to wonder if Chengdu is on the equator, but that’s not really necessary. A geostationary orbit should be possible so that the artificial object appears over the Chengdu at night and disappears over the horizon during the day. It might appear over Korea on its way to and back from the Indian Ocean, if my informal understanding of orbital mechanics is sound.
So it’s possible.
But why would you want to inflict so much more light on the city? People need periods of dark and light, our bodies evolved to expect it. Is Wu planning to force everyone out of the city? Maybe someone needs to show some ego?
It just seems weird.
