The Qianfan satellites in this first batch are bright enough to be seen by the unaided eye. They will adversely impact research astronomy and the aesthetic appreciation of the night sky at their current brightness.
The Qianfan satellites launched in August of this year are not only brighter than SpaceX's Starlink satellites, they're brighter than all but 500 stars in the night sky. That's a massive problem for Earth-bound astronomers.
It's difficult to know whether they are listening to the concerns of astronomers. Chinese operators want to be viewed as responsible space actors.
Despite many astronomers criticizing Starlink for blocking the dark night sky, SpaceX has lauded for reducing the brightness of its satellite fleet after criticism.
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