Is this the 20 end of the night sky as we know it?

“Exterts fear tens of hoteanes of. _’ satellite launches into low-Earth orbit over the next few years will create a ring of space junk, blot out: the stars for future generations... and even put us at risk of missing a rogue asteroid or alien contact

WHEREVER YOU are, go out and enjoy the night sky this evening. Make the most of it, because experts have issued a_ stark warning that it’s about to change forever potentially spelling the end of centuries of stargazing history in as little as seven years.

The rate of satellites being launched risks creating a ring of space junk around the planet that reflects light back to Earth, wrecking the view and creating bright streaks in the heavens. It might even thwart the search for alien life.

Tony Tyson, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, warned: If you went out in a dark place somewhere and looked at the sky in 2030 it would be a very macabre scene.

“The sky will be crawling with moving satellites and the number of stars that you would see are minimum, even in a very dark sky. It’s a major issue.”

The night sky is a natural wilderness, a free nature park with wonders for anyone to see. The constellations and their stories should be taught in every primary school.

Get to know the names of the bright stars and the planets that move among them. From time to time there are meteor showers and sometimes comets like the current ghostly green one seen in the northern sky in the early hours of the morning.

Then there’s the Milky Way, described by the Ancient Greeks as being like milk spilt across the sky.

Today, even a small pair of binoculars can reveal vast stretches of countless stars.

But soon, according to some in the astronomy community, this view effectively the heritage of all humanity is about to be polluted by technology.

Many of us already struggle to enjoy a regular clear view of the night sky thanks to increasing light pollution, sometimes known as skyglow.

In 2008, the point was reached when half of humanity was living in urban areas with its street lights and glare drowning out all but the brightest stars.