Stuart Jefferies (HartSCI LLC), Michael Hart (HartSCI LLC), Douglas Hope (HartSCI LLC), E. Keith Hege (HartSCI LLC), Runa Briguglio (Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), Enrico Pinna (Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), Alfio Puglisi (Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), Fernando Quiros (Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri), and Marco Xompero (Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri)
Keywords: Adaptive Optics, Imaging
Abstract:
We describe results from new computational techniques to extend the reach of large ground-based optical telescopes, enabling high resolution imaging of space objects under daylight conditions. Current state-of-the-art systems, even those employing adaptive optics, dramatically underperform in such conditions because of strong turbulence generated by diurnal solar heating of the atmosphere, characterized by a ratio of telescope diameter to Fried parameter as high as 70. Our approach extends previous advances in multi-frame blind deconvolution (MFBD) by exploiting measurements from a wavefront sensor recorded simultaneously with high-cadence image data. We describe early results with the new algorithm which may be used with seeing-limited image data or as an adjunct to partial compensation with adaptive optics to restore imaging to the diffraction limit even under the extreme observing conditions found in daylight.
Date of Conference: September 13-16, 2011
Track: Adaptive Optics & Imaging