Michael Hart, University of Arizona, Richard Rast, AFRL/RD, Stuart Jefferies, University of Hawaii
Keywords: geosynchronous satellites, large telescopes, infrared, resolved imaging, adaptive optics
Abstract:
We report observations of a number of geostationary spacecraft recorded in the J, H, and K bands (centered around 1.2 micron, 1.6 micron, and 2.2 micron) at the 6.5 m MMT telescope in January 2015. With adaptive optics, the satellites were resolved at close to the diffraction limit in each of the wavebands. True color images may be recovered from the multiple wavebands, while the large aperture allows accurate photometric calibration with excellent time resolution of even small, faint objects in these distant orbits. Of note are our observations of solar panels, which can only be satisfactorily imaged at wavelengths longer than their cutoff wavelengths. Since the cutoff is generally in the neighborhood of 1.5 2 micron, the panels will only be well resolved by telescopes larger than 4 m. In one case observed at the MMT, solar panels were seen to span approximately 25 m, twice the extent described in published data.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2015
Track: Adaptive Optics & Imaging