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NASA’s Landolt Mission is set to launch an artificial “star” into Earth’s orbit to help measure the brightness of real stars more accurately.

Named after astronomer Arlo Landolt, the mission will send a calibrated light source into orbit in 2029.

This artificial star will orbit 22,236 miles above Earth, acting as a reference point alongside real stars to help create new brightness catalogs.

In its first year, the Landolt satellite will appear stationary above the United States. It will be too dim to see with the naked eye, but amateur astronomers with personal telescopes might be able to spot it.

The mission aims to improve telescope calibration, enhancing the accuracy of measuring star brightness for various celestial events, from nearby stars to distant supernovae.

Jamie Tayar, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Florida, is on the mission team. She believes it will set a new standard for understanding star brightness, leading to more accurate estimates of their size, scale, and age.

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