Mark Ackermann, Sandia National Laboratories; Rex Kiziah, USAF Academy; Peter Zimmer, J.T. McGraw & Associates; John McGraw, J.T. McGraw & Associates
Keywords: Site Selection, Weather, Cloud Cover, Ground-Based Telescope
Abstract:
Continuous surveillance of the night sky with ground-based optical sensors requires a number of sites distributed around the globe. Due to variable cloud cover, the number of sites required to guarantee nightly observation of each and every GEO slot is greater than that simply required to provide some coverage. Combining this consideration with the requirement for dark sky sites with supporting infrastructure presents additional limitations on where ground-based telescopes can be sited. We examine this problem and present results of an optimization approach that can both recommend sites and networks of sites, as well as provide insight into the utility of any individual site.
Date of Conference: September 11-14, 2018
Track: Space Situational Awareness