Space Junk

For over fifty years, space debris has accumulated around Earth as a by-product of our off-the-planet explorations. Everything from dead satellites to stray bolts from International Space Station construction orbits around us. For those who are not astronomically inclined, this has been a difficult concept to comprehend -- until now.

The European Space Operations Centre recently released startling images depicting all trackable space debris orbiting Earth, along with projections of future density. Universe Today provides accompanying text for the layman interested in what this means for us now and in the future.

Image by ESA.