Krzysztof Kaminski, Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A.Mickiewicz University; Edwin Wnuk, Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A.Mickiewicz University; Justyna Golebiewska, Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A.Mickiewicz University; Mikolaj Kruzynski, Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A.Mickiewicz University; Monika K. Kaminska, Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, A.Mickiewicz University; Michal Zolnowski, 6 Remote Observatories for Asteroids and Debris Searching; Marcin Gedek, 6 Remote Observatories for Asteroids and Debris Searching; Rafal Borek, Polish Space Agency
Keywords:
Abstract:
LEO satellite tracking has traditionally been a domain dominated by radars. Recent advancements in optical detectors and telescope mounts are gradually changing this situation. Direct drive motors made telescope mounts software limited devices that recently became capable of tracking even the fastest satellites and slewing from target to target within several seconds. Low readout noise, large light sensitive area, high frame rate sensors made short exposures much more efficient than with traditional CCDs. New cameras are capable of delivering usable data with both satellite target and numerous reference stars with exposure times as short as 0.01s. We present results of an observing campaign performed by the collaboration of Astronomical Observatory of Adam Mickiewicz University (AO AMU) and 6 Remote Observatories for Asteroid and Debris Searching (6ROADS). The campaign has been conducted in the fist half of 2018, using sensor types recently introduced in astronomical cameras: (1) electron multiplying CCD (Andor iXon3), and (2) global shutter CMOS (QHY174M-GPS). The latter is equipped by the manufacturer with a built-in circuit that uses GNSS receiver for accurate image timing. Andor camera images timing was made using an external GNSS-based event clock. LEO cubesats, selected for the campaign, are considered one of the most challenging target types for optical SST sensors. This is because of the combination of their relatively low apparent brightness, fast angular velocity an short observing window. Our observations have been performed using two highly automatic small telescopes located on two continents: 0.4m Solaris Observatory in Poland (6ROADS) and 0.7m Pozna? Spectroscopic Telescope 2 in Arizona (AO AMU). The quality of astrometric results and orbital solutions has been evaluated and the potential of small optical sensors for tracking LEO cubesats and even smaller targets is discussed.
Date of Conference: September 11-14, 2018
Track: Optical Systems Instrumentation