Chinese scientists planning to launch artificial moon into orbit by 2020

[ALF]

http://time.com/5429288/china-chengdu-artificial-moon/

Scientists are hoping to hang the man-made moon above the city of Chengdu, the capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, according to a report in Chinese state media. The imitation celestial body — essentially an illuminated satellite — will bear a reflective coating to cast sunlight back to Earth, where it will supplement streetlights at night.

Scientists estimated that it could be eight times more luminous than the actual, original moon. It will also orbit much closer to Earth; about 500 km (310 miles) away, compared to the moon’s 380,000 km (236,000 miles).
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45910479
http://uk.businessinsider.com/china-wants-to-build-a-fake-moon-to-light-up-the-city-streets-2018-10

Any thoughts on this? Widely reported a few days ago but short on specific details, the artificial moon will be 8 times as bright as the real moon and hang above the city of Chendu. They are thinking this will replace street lights and save lots of money.

I wonder how large the diameter would be? Would they want it to appear like the size of the real moon? Would there be a new form of man made eclipse? What would we call an eclipse of an artificial obstruction with a celestial body? Nothing? I'm thinking of the inevitable moon-on-moon eclipse.

While the idea of a satellite blasting fake moon rays down onto one country is a novelty, I wonder if the drawbacks have been thought through, overcast/stormy nights being a red flag. I think this could only work in tandem with existing street lights and a master controller. I keep thinking The Truman Show...

Apocalypse-hastening? Or shrewd technologizing?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I think it would appear smaller. It’s supposed to cover only a single city, right? It would have to be in a geosynchronous orbit.
Clouds would be a problem, I’d guess.

 

[Doom Shepherd]

Did they run this idea by any local astronomic observatories? Bright things in the sky tend to disrupt observations.

 

[bigglesworth]

Did they run this idea by any local astronomic observatories? Bright things in the sky tend to disrupt observations.

They didn't specifically address astronomical observations but did state that increased light pollution would be an issue to those in the city who can't screen out the constant light as well as wildlife.

The faux moon is supposed to save the city $240MM per year, though they don't mention how much it would cost to build, launch and maintain.

 

[StarCruiser]

Did they run this idea by any local astronomic observatories? Bright things in the sky tend to disrupt observations.

It's China - they don't have a clue, or care a bit about such things... They talk a big talk about a bit of everything and then just do whatever they want (including bullying neighbors, rattling rusty sabers etc...).

 

[Tenacity]

Did they run this idea by any local astronomic observatories? Bright things in the sky tend to disrupt observations.

figure out how to shield the areas outside the intended illumination zone, like some kind of spotlight maybe.

 

[rahullak]

If it is to "hang" above one particular city, the satellite would have to be in a geosynchronous orbit. But any satellite in geosynchronous orbit would be at an altitude of approximately 35,786 km. That's way higher than the 500 km claim.

 

[Santaman]

Yeah, that 500Km is not going to work, it would orbit the earth at that hight like any ordinary satelite, not sure any other country would tolerate that showing up in the skies.

 

[XCV330]

they could possibly accomplish it using molniya orbit and some sort of rotation so the reflector does not shine except when the perigee is optimal over the target area, but it would probably take more than one of these.

 

[Gary7]

I wonder what happened to the idea of ground based solar recharged LED's? Seems a much more sensible approach for the long term. Such a geosynchronous satellite is a single point of failure. Dangerous.

 

[publiusr]

This isn't the first time the concept has been floated. Energia was going to launch similar reflectors:
http://www.astronautix.com/e/energiapolatyilluminator.html