Jack Drummond, Leidos and Air Force Research Laboratory – Directed Energy Directorate, RDS, Odell Reynolds, Air Force Research Laboratory – Directed Energy Directorate, RDS, Miles Buckman, Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, RDS, Mark Eickhoff, Boeing and Air Force Research Laboratory – Directed Energy Directorate, RDS, Lee Kann, Air Force Research Laboratory – Directed Energy Directorate, RDS
Keywords: Adaptive Optics, starfire
Abstract:
After exploring binary stars as surrogates for closely space objects (CSO) in orbit around the Earth at geosynchronous altitudes (Geos), we have found a more appropriate proxy in moons around asteroids. The brightness ratio of binary stars tend to be less in the near infra-red than in visible wavelengths where most of the delta magnitudes have been accumulated. On the other hand, asteroids and their moons, being chips off the same block, preserve a delta mag over a wider range of wavelengths. Furthermore, the parent asteroids are generally at similar magnitudes to Geos and their moons cover a wide range of brightness differences from their larger companions, making asteroids with moons ideal targets for study with the Starfire Optical Range’s 3.5 m telescope using adaptive optics with a laser or natural guide star.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2017
Track: Adaptive Optics & Imaging