Sirius, the brightest star seen from Earth, could have some incoming competition.

(Tommy Hsu/Getty Images)

A team of Russian scientists are aiming to send a special satellite into orbit with one goal: to become the brightest star in the night sky. Well, second brightest, right next to the sun, of course.

The team from Moscow State Mechanical Engineering Universitybehind this bright idea has raised more than 1.7 million rubles ($22,000) toward launching Mayak - Russian for the word "beacon" - , says Sputnik News.

"We want to show that space exploration is something exciting and interesting, but most importantly that today it is accessible to everybody who is interested," said project leader Alexander Shayenko.

(More:Smart Satellite To Bring Internet Access to the World)

"The Mayak project is a team of enthusiasts, who are showing that space is simpler and closer than we are all used to thinking."

Once in orbit, Mayak will use its enough to be seen clearly by the naked eye during night hours, says Russia Today.

However, some astronomers aren’t overly thrilled with the shining object, which could cause some interference during observations into the night sky.

",” Nick Howes, an astronomer and former deputy director of the Kielder Observatory, told IFL Science. “To see this being potentially ruined by some ridiculous crowdfunded nonsense makes my heart simply despair.”

(More:Could We Reach Mars in 30 Minutes?)

Gemma Lavender, astronomer and editor for All About Science magazine, said that unless the Mayak moves in front of researchers as they’re gazing deep into a faint galaxy, the object will likely go unnoticed.

“The sky is massive though, so the chances of this happening are quite small,” she added.

Those who donated to the Mayak’s Boomstarter fund , take part in the last stage of the trial run for $33 and would receive a personal invitation to the satellite’s send off for nearly $4,000, according to the team's page.

The spacecraft is expected to launch in the summer of 2016.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Photos FromSentinel-2A Satellite

This false-color image from the Sentinel-2A satellite shows agricultural structures near Tubarjal, Saudi Arabia. Circles come from a central-pivot irrigation system, where the long water pipe rotates around a well at the center. (Copernicus Sentinel data (2015)/ESA)