Low Earth Orbit Visualization

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Real-time data and accuracy

  • Some viewers ask for true real-time visualization; others point out that orbital tracking data can be days old, so anything “real-time” is approximate at best.
  • Alternative tools like NASA’s visualizers are mentioned for near‑real‑time views, but with less coverage.

Scale, abstraction, and honesty in visualization

  • Major debate centers on the satellites’ exaggerated size: they are far larger than reality, with no obvious disclaimer, which some argue misleads people into thinking space is “crowded” with large objects.
  • Defenders say true-to-scale views would make satellites invisible and therefore useless for understanding orbital structure; any map or visualization is an abstraction and thus a “lie” to some degree.
  • Critics counter that even if distortion is necessary, tools should still clearly convey real sizes/distances somewhere (e.g., zoom levels, side-by-side scale diagrams).
  • Several note that misleading visuals can feed misconceptions (e.g., belief the sky is packed or misunderstandings about why satellites aren’t visible in photos).

Perceived congestion, risk, and Kessler syndrome

  • Some users are shocked or depressed by how “packed” LEO looks; others see it as a testament to human achievement and the value satellites provide.
  • There’s discussion of collision risk:
    • One side stresses that LEO is an enormous 3D volume, real collisions are rare, and only larger objects are tracked.
    • Others highlight untracked 1–10 cm debris, very high relative velocities, and limited traffic management as serious hazards.
  • Kessler syndrome is discussed:
    • One framing: we’re “sprinting toward a brick wall” with mega‑constellations, especially at 600–1600 km.
    • Counterpoint: Kessler is more like pollution—specific orbital bands get trashed, not all of space—though debris can decay downward and contaminate lower orbits.
  • Debate over Starlink’s altitude: some argue ~550–600 km is still too high for mega‑constellations; others emphasize its ~5–25 year decay as a mitigating factor.

What’s being shown: beams, debris, and operators

  • Large red shapes are radar beams from LeoLabs’ tracking instruments; they run a commercial analog to government tracking systems, selling more precise conjunction data to operators.
  • Questions arise about why tumbling “rocket bodies” appear as such rather than “debris.”
  • Many note that clicking random objects reveals a heavy dominance of Starlink satellites.
  • Users appreciate debris-layer toggles and ask for more filters (e.g., Starlink on/off, probability or relative-velocity overlays) and inclusion of GEO/SSO bands.