Protecting radio astronomy and our shared human heritage

By Gyula I. G. Józsa, Scientific Staff and Spectrum Manager, Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy, Germany, and Boris Sorokin, Radio-Spectrum Engineer, SKA Observatory, United Kingdom

Throughout history, the dark and quiet sky has inspired humankind, and astronomy has contributed to pivotal scientific discoveries that have, over time, changed society. To continue this path of evolution, the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and its members have the opportunity, and obligation, to preserve the quiet sky for future generations.

Imagine a clear, moonless night in a remote place. You switch off every light and look up. The stars seem to draw nearer, almost close enough to touch. They glow in different colours and gather into familiar patterns. A pale white band shimmers across the sky, threaded with dark shadows.

The dark and quiet sky represents humanity’s oldest heritage. Our ancestors stood beneath that same wonder, held by its celestial spell. Beneath it, they began asking questions whose answers now underpin our society.

A wealth of archaeological evidence shows that the interpretation of celestial objects by day and by night has played a central role in the cosmogony of practically every culture. Ancient astronomical observatories like Nabta-Playa (Egypt, 5000 BC), Goseck (Germany, 4900 BC), Adeukgi (Korean Peninsula, 3000 BC), Taosi (China, 2100 BC), and many more across the globe testify to this.

Across history, the search to understand creation has been inseparable from watching the sky. Astronomy – the observation of objects in the heavens – may be as old as humankind itself.

Astronomy has also shaped more recent history. The Copernican Revolution marked both the beginning of the age of the exact sciences and a profound cultural shift. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) proposed a cosmological model with the Sun, rather than Earth, at its centre.