Title: Celestial Display System and Method for Projecting Text and Drawings in the Night Sky Using a Satellite Constellation
Background: The present invention relates to the field of aerial displays, particularly the display of text and drawings in the sky. Prior art in this field includes skywriting by aircraft, towing of banners behind aircraft, carriage of displays by aircraft, and arrays of aircraft or drones carrying lights and flying in formation. However, to the inventor’s knowledge, no prior system uses a method similar to the present invention, which employs a constellation of satellites equipped with light sources to generate the desired text or images.
Summary: The present invention is a system and method for displaying text and drawings in the night sky using a large constellation of satellites in orbit around a planet, typically Earth. The system consists of hundreds or thousands of satellites, preferably in low Earth orbit, each carrying a visible light, well-collimated laser and a pointing system capable of directing the laser beam in a desired direction. The satellite constellation receives instructions regarding the pointing of the laser beam and timing information indicating when to turn on the beam. A controller, which may be located at any position, sends information to the satellites, instructing each to point its beam toward a particular viewing site. The controller is aware of the positions of each satellite relative to the viewing site and issues instructions that cause multiple satellites to simultaneously point their lasers toward the viewing site and turn them on. The satellites chosen to receive these instructions are positioned in their orbit close to the path of the intended text or drawings to appear in the sky. The text and drawings consist of a set of dots, each originating from a single satellite, which form the desired text or image.
Detailed Description: In one embodiment, each satellite may be equipped with multiple lasers of different colors, enabling the generation of multicolored images. The pointing system for each laser beam may be capable of generating text or drawings at multiple viewing locations simultaneously by using multiple beams, splitting a single beam into multiple beams and directing each separately, or rapidly changing pointing locations.
To use a single beam that will appear to be directed to multiple locations simultaneously, the beam is turned off, pointed at a first location, turned on for a short period (a small fraction of a second), turned off, pointed at a second location, and again turned on for a short period. This process may be repeated with any number of locations, limited primarily by the speed at which the beam can be steered to each location. Each site should receive a laser beam several or more times each second.
Claims:
- A system for displaying text and drawings in the night sky, comprising: a. A constellation of satellites in orbit around a planet, each satellite equipped with at least one light source and a pointing system capable of directing the light source in a desired direction; b. A controller for sending instructions to the satellites, indicating the pointing direction of the light source and timing information for activating the light source; c. Wherein the positions of the satellites correspond to portions of the text or drawing to be displayed, and the simultaneous activation of the light sources on multiple satellites generates the desired text or image in the night sky.
- The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a visible light, well-collimated laser.
- The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is reflected or redirected sunlight.
- The system of claim 1, wherein each satellite is equipped with multiple light sources of different colors, enabling the generation of multicolored images.
- The system of claim 1, wherein the pointing system for each light source is capable of generating text or drawings at multiple viewing locations simultaneously by using multiple beams, splitting a single beam into multiple beams and directing each separately, or rapidly changing pointing locations.
- A method for displaying text and drawings in the night sky, comprising: a. Providing a constellation of satellites in orbit around a planet, each satellite equipped with at least one light source and a pointing system capable of directing the light source in a desired direction; b. Sending instructions from a controller to the satellites, indicating the pointing direction of the light source and timing information for activating the light source; c. Simultaneously activating the light sources on multiple satellites, wherein the positions of the satellites correspond to portions of the text or drawing to be displayed, generating the desired text or image in the night sky.
Abstract: A system and method for displaying text and images in a clear night sky using a multiplicity of satellites and light sources on each satellite, where the positions of the satellites correspond to portions of the text or drawing to be displayed. In the preferred embodiment, the light source is a laser, but any light source may be used, including reflected or redirected sunlight. The system consists of a large constellation of satellites in orbit around a planet, typically Earth, with each satellite carrying a visible light, well-collimated laser and a pointing system. A controller sends instructions to the satellites, indicating the pointing direction of the laser beam and timing information for activating the beam. The simultaneous activation of the lasers on multiple satellites generates the desired text or image in the night sky.
#1 by Bob on 2024 May 9 - 01:05
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Cool. So it avoids widespread light pollution by pointing the lasers only at intended recipients.
It would have to be a powerful laser to be seen a hundred or more miles away, and it’s likely powered by batteries charged by solar cells. I wonder how long you’d be able to run it, and then how long recharging would take.
#2 by Dave on 2024 May 9 - 16:03
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I’m double checking the math, but I don’t think you need much power. < 100 mW should be plenty at Starlink's typical altitude (~350 miles), to make each satellite brighter than the brightest star. That assumes a 1 mRad beam dispersion (which is typical for laser pointers - with a little effort you can get it down to 0.1 mRad). Even at lunar distance (1000x further) you could do it with < 500 mW if you're willing to accept the dots being about the brightness of average visible stars (magnitude +5 or so). Of course that would be visible on the moon only when it's new, and by a dark-adapted viewer. I was thinking of filing a patent (Claude.ai drafted this application) but decided to just post it and make it prior art. It seems marginally practical - with a 1 mRad (laser pointerish) beam you could illuminate a football stadium full of people, but they wouldn't notice if they'd just been watching a brightly-lit game - they'd need dark-adapted eyes (able to see stars). And you can only do it for a few locations at once. And you need pretty accurate pointing - certainly possible, but I'm not sure how much the hardware would cost. Probably not much compared to a whole Starlink satellite (~$250k each or so).