The optical space surveillance system at Crimean Observatory. Facility, methods and first results.
- Paper number
IAC-06-B6.1.10
- Author
Mr. Vasilij Rumyantsev, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Ukraine
- Coauthor
Mr. Vadym Biryukov, Crimean Laboratory of Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Ukraine
- Coauthor
Mr. Gennadij Borisov, Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Ukraine
- Year
2006
- Abstract
About three years ago, we joined to artificial satellite observations program in collaboration with scientists from Moscow Institute of Applied Mathematics and Pulkovo Observatory. Initially, we used 640-mm telescope with field-of-view (FOV) 53'x35' only for occasional observations for the purpose of assistance to radar interferometer experiments. During the last year increased experience, extended equipment (few various telescopes and CCD-detectors) and refined software allowed us to significantly improve quality and quantity of observations. As a result, vigorously developing system will be able to solve wide range of applications, from wide-field survey of bright artificial satellites to precise observations of single space debris fragments. This paper presents description of facility, methods and some results of our work for the last years. Now we use 640-mm middle-field telescope for monitoring and survey space debris fragments, 220-mm wide-field survey telescope (FOV: 3x3 deg.) and 70-mm super wide-field camera (FOV: 11x11 deg.) for more extensive survey of bright GEO satellites (m < 13), as well as, MEO and LEO ones. Sometimes, we can use narrow-field (FOV: 11'x11') 600-mm telescope for follow up observations and large 2600-mm telescope for search and investigation faint debris objects.Developed telescope control system allows us to carry out observations by tracking satellites with angular velocity up to one degree per second. At the same time, image processing software permits to recognize and measure long star trails, thereby it makes possible to observe fainter moving objects. As a result, few tens faint space debris objects were detected and monitored by large telescopes of our system. Follow up observations shows very interesting properties of some objects (high area-to-mass ratio). At last, in this paper we consider the plan of the future development of the networked system of all described telescopes, then automatic follow-up will be able.
- Abstract document