Precision Tracking Of Low-Earth Objects With A Modified Astronomical Mount

D. M. Gibson; M. P. Manke; P. J. Trujillo; F. Shelly; D. E. Beatty; A. W. Healy; J. A. Johnson; J. Mauth; L. Ramzel

doi:10.1117/12.977996

26 September 1989 Precision Tracking Of Low-Earth Objects With A Modified Astronomical Mount

D. M. Gibson, M. P. Manke, P. J. Trujillo, F. Shelly, D. E. Beatty, A. W. Healy, J. A. Johnson, J. Mauth, L. Ramzel

Proceedings Volume 1111, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing III; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.977996
Event: SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, 1989, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

A Boiler & Chivens astronomical mount has been modified and upgraded to enable precision, tracking of near-earth objects. A. two-step process is employed: 1) ephemeris-based pointing to bring the object in or near the telescope field-of-view, and 2) automatic, video tracking (AVT) to "grab" and center the object. Tracking rates, in excess of 3°/s in each coordinate have been achieved. When operated in the AVT mode, observed pointing errors, even at the above rates, rarely exceed 1 pixel (2 - 5 arcsec).

Citation Download Citation

D. M. Gibson, M. P. Manke, P. J. Trujillo, F. Shelly, D. E. Beatty, A. W. Healy, J. A. Johnson, J. Mauth, and L. Ramzel "Precision Tracking Of Low-Earth Objects With A Modified Astronomical Mount", Proc. SPIE 1111, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing III, (26 September 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.977996

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