Revolving Around The Sun

A partial solar eclipse will be observable this weekend. How do technological developments influence our access to the sun and skies?

• From some parts of the world, the moon will briefly dim the sun’s visibility this weekend. We thought we would take the occasion to bring you a variety of stories about our relationship with space.
• With recent technological advances, outer-space has never felt so close. Billions have been spent on the James Webb Space Telescope, making the sun and other stars and galaxies more visible.
• While certain developments maintain a respectful observational distance, space technology companies are pumping money towards making access to the outer orbits a commercial reality.
• Many city-dwellers are already familiar with night-skies that are never really dark. But mega satellite constellations, sent to space by private firms, threaten to pollute skies all over.
• On earth, inching closer to harnessing the sun’s power—through controlled nuclear fusion—offers potential redemption in the climate crisis. Billionaires are invested in this too.
• So as we continue to gaze at the stars and learn all we can from them, it may be worth questioning what (and who) conditions our access to the solar system?