WASHINGTON -- A US astronomical organization expressed concern on Monday over Elon Musk's internet constellation project, fearing that too many bright artificial satellites will ruin the night sky and affect astronomical observations.

The US private space company SpaceX, founded by Musk, launched its first batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on May 23, in an effort to build a 12,000-strong satellite network capable of providing broadband internet services.

Also, other satellite makers including Amazon are joining the competition to bring thousands of internet satellites into space in coming years, which will dramatically increase the quantity of satellites orbiting the Earth which stands at only about 5,000 currently.

"I, like many astronomers, am very worried about the future of these new bright satellites," said Megan Donahue, President of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

They may create the potential for "substantial adverse impacts to ground- and space-based astronomy," including "significant disruption of optical and near-infrared observations by direct detection of satellites in reflected and emitted light; contamination of radio astronomical observations by electromagnetic radiation in satellite communication bands; and collision with space-based observatories," according to an AAS statement.