Altitude affects the duration too
Low-altitude orbits limit the time the satellite is in the sun and the ground-based observer isn't. You will see this as satellites track across the sky and then "blink-out" as they pass into earth's shadow.
I'm surprised that astronomers complain about LEO satellites as they probably don't do much observing while LEO satellites are visible. There will still be a challenge where a satellite directly obscures a target, but this will only be for a very short duration and I'd have thought that planes (that actively emit light - strobes, anti-collision and navigation lights) and clouds are more of a problem.
Is this a case of not-in-my-(celestial)-back-yard?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
