The high optical brightness of the BlueWalker 3 satellite.

Large constellations of bright artificial satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) pose significant challenges to ground-based astronomy. Current orbiting constellation satellites have brightnesses between apparent magnitudes 4 and 6, while in the near-infrared Ks band they can reach magnitude 2. Satellite operators, astronomers, and other users of the night sky are working on brightness mitigation strategies. Radio emissions induce further potential risk to ground-based radio telescopes that also need to be evaluated. Here we report the outcome of an international optical observation campaign of a prototype constellation satellite, AST Space Mobile's "BlueWalker 3". BlueWalker 3 features a 64.3 m phased-array antenna as well as a Launch Vehicle Adapter (LVA). The peak brightness of the satellite reached an apparent magnitude of 0.4. This made the new satellite one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Additionally, the LVA reached an apparent V-band magnitude of 5.5 four times brighter than the current International Astronomical Union recommendation of magnitude 7; it jettisoned on 2022-11-10 (UT), and its orbital ephemeris was not publicly released until four days later. The expected build-out of constellations with hundreds of thousands of new, bright objects will make active satellite tracking and avoidance strategies a necessity for ground-based telescopes.