Space junk and satellite megaconstellations, conceptual illustration. The number of satellite megaconstellations and amount of space junk orbiting Earth is increasing. Satellite megaconstellations have become problematic for astronomers because they interfere with ground observations. The satellites reflect sunlight and appear as bright streaks. Satellite companies are working to make the satellites dimmer and reflect less light to the ground. Space junk also orbits Earth and consists of debris from space missions: abandoned or broken satellites, satellite pieces, tools dropped by astronauts and even space rocks captured into Earth orbit.