Henrique Schmitt, Naval Research Laboratory, J. T. Armstrong, Naval Research Laboratory, E. K. Baines, Naval Research Laboratory, S. R. Restaino, Naval Research Laboratory, J. H. Clark III, Naval Research Laboratory, J. A. Benson, US Naval Research Observatory Flagstaff Station, D. J. Hutter, US Naval Research Observatory Flagstaff Station, R. T. Zavala, US Naval Research Observatory Flagstaff Station
Keywords: geostationary satellites, imaging, interferometry
Abstract:
Using the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI), we have made the first multiple-baseline interferometric detection of a satellite. The observations, carried out during the March 2015 glint season, succeeded in detecting the DirecTV-7S satellite with interferometer baseline lengths of 8.8 m and 9.8 m and wavelengths from 850 nm to 550 nm, corresponding to a resolution of ~0.02 arcsec, or 4 m at geostationary altitude. This is the first multiple-baseline interferometric detection of a satellite.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2015
Track: Adaptive Optics & Imaging