China to Launch 'Artificial Moon' to Light Up Night Skies
By reflecting light from the sun, the artificial moon could replace street lights
(Web Desk) - China has announced to launch its own artificial moon by 2020 to swap the street lights and lower electricity cost in metropolitan, reported state media.
Chengdu, a city in southwestern Sichuan province, is reportedly in the process to develop illumination satellites that will shine in tandem the real moon but are eight times brighter.
Chinese scientist has planned to send three artificial moon in the next four years that are likely to orbit at 200 kilometres above the Earth and light up an area with diameter of 10 to 80 KM.
However, by reflecting light from the sun, the artificial moon could replace street lights, reported Chinese media.
Chengdu city people are waiting for the satellite to start tourism in the city. But some doctors have said that the nighttime continuous light from satellite can affect the natural physical clock and routine of the citizens. Thus, their health may have negative effects.
Wu Chunfeng, head of the company working on satellite, said that this light will be very dim and will not change the night into the day. However, experts have said that the light can be several times more than the fourteenth moon.
“The satellites’ brightness and service time are both adjustable, and the accuracy of the lighting can be controlled within tens of metres,” Wu said about the project.
