The Cross in Space...

[EdipisReks]

Actually this gave me a question...

What if, with the advent of private space programs, someone decides to build something in orbit that is lit up, and visible from the ground?

i prepared for this. i have a 10 terawatt chemical laser on the roof of my apartment.

 

[RussDill]

An object big enough to be seen as a recognizable shape from Earth without a telescope has to be huge, even in low Earth orbit. As for lighting, I guess they could build it out of translucent material and strongly light it from the inside, or cover the side facing Earth in LED's. I can't see how it could do anything other than piss off a bunch of astronomers, though. Perhaps when the televangelists launch their first ever communications sattellite, they might attempt something similarly grandiose.

At least they didn't opt for carving a giant Jesus fish into the moon instead.

Many satellites are already visable, without any lighting, they reflect the light of the sun, for satellites with a high orbit, they can be visible well into the night. The are metalic, they reflect sunlight. Make on that is a mirror (or disco ball), and you'd get even greater visability. You could put a bunch of foil in space and make it stretch as far as it would go.

My favorite would have to be the iridium satellites, that due to their extremely low orbit, produce an orange reflection at dawn and dusk, it looks kinda light a street lamp in the distance, but even if you are traveling very fast, it doesn't move.

http://www.heavens-above.com/iridiumhelp.asp
http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/MAEL/ag/spotsatl.htm

 

[RussDill]

Also, not to give them any ideas, but there are some satellites in the sky that travel in groups, and form a triangle traveling across the night sky. Get 6 pieces of foil, and put them in orbit:

............
.....*.....
..* * *..
.....*.....
.....*.....
............

That would be an impressive site, but probably couldn't be seen from a city. Much more impressive than a constellation, because of the speed at which it moves. Course, I'm sure we can think of better shapes to put into space.