re: Single picture of all satellites currently orbiting the earth

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It was always blurred when I was a teenager

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That wasn't the satellite, it was you going blind just like the nuns said you would.

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Currently, about 19,000 pieces of debris larger than 5 cm (2.0 in) are tracked,

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As the chance of collision is influenced by the number of objects in space, there is a critical density where the creation of new debris is theorized to occur faster than the various natural forces remove them.

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Called the "Kessler syndrome", there is debate if the critical density has already been reached in certain orbital bands.[2] A runaway Kessler syndrome would render the useful polar-orbiting bands difficult to use, and greatly increase the cost of space launches and missions. Measurement, growth mitigation and active removal of space debris are activities within the space industry today.

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I wonder if they included...

THE BLACK KNIGHT (dun dun DUUNNN) in that photo???



Article detailing the "mythology" of the Black Knight:

Consipracy time! The Black Knight satellite

Interesting article that somewhat debunks it here:

Article explaining the legend of the Black Knight satellite

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How do they not bump into each other? Are they all orbiting at same speed?

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No, but the vast majority do orbit in the same direction. Almost all launches go with the direction of the Earth's rotation for a free (and fairly large) energy boost right off the bat.

In addition to that, all the flight paths are tracked at all times. Nobody wants to turn their precious hundred million dollar plus sat into space junk.

Finally, as others have stated space is pretty f*cking big so it isn't often a concern. But accidents do (and have) happened and it's always a huge mess b/c that turns two satellites into several thousand shards of metal going tens of thousands mph in all directions.

Question, does your body decay if you die while floating adrift through space? Id imagine bacteria couldnt survive in space like that. So rigor mortis would set in and you would become petrified?

I wonder if that's including the ones we don't know about; secret NSA & NGA satellites, etc.

okietiger

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Dumb question: How do they not bump into each other? Are they all orbiting at same speed?

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Is this question for real?

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foshizzle

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Good stuff.

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Geosynchronous orbits. Youre welcome.

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The only ones in geostationary orbits are the ones around the equator (comm. satellites mostly). You're welcome.