Under a False Moon
The Celestial Sphere in the Anthropocene

For billions of years, the celestial sphere has acted as a universal clock and reliable map for life on Earth. As a result, many terrestrial species have evolved to regulate critical biological, physiological, and behavioral functions by regular cycles of sunlight, moonlight, and starlight and navigate by recognizable patterns in the day and night skies. At the Collegium, Miles Timpe will explore the environmental and cultural impacts of spaceflight as part of the broader Earth-space system.

Accelerating human activity in space has the potential to significantly disrupt these natural cycles and patterns, with potentially catastrophic consequences for Earth's biosphere and many human cultures. Thus, the rapid commercialization of space and lack of regulatory clarity present an urgent need to better understand the unintended consequences of spaceflight and extend our conception of the Earth system to include a dynamic space environment.

As part of his early-career fellowship, Miles will model planned space missions and assess their environmental and cultural impact within the context of the Earth-space system. The aim of this work is to inspire discussions between the space industry, regulators, policy makers, and the public about how to effectively pursue environmental stewardship beyond Earth.