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Space debris observations with the Slovak AGO70 telescope: Astrometry and light curves.

Authors :
Šilha, Jiří
Krajčovič, Stanislav
Zigo, Matej
Tóth, Juraj
Žilková, Danica
Zigo, Pavel
Kornoš, Leonard
Šimon, Jaroslav
Schildknecht, Thomas
Cordelli, Emiliano
Vananti, Alessandro
Mann, Harleen Kaur
Rachman, Abdul
Paccolat, Christophe
Flohrer, Tim
Source :
Advances in Space Research. Apr2020, Vol. 65 Issue 8, p2018-2035. 18p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

• Description of the space debris data acquisition with standard astronomical optical telescopes. • Astrometric reduction, data validation and orbit improvement for space debris objects. • Photometric data acquisition, light curve construction and processing, measurement error propagation. • Public catalogue of space debris light curves with electronic link. The Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia (FMPI) operates its own 0.7-m Newtonian telescope (AGO70) dedicated to the space surveillance tracking and research, with an emphasis on space debris. The observation planning focuses on objects on geosynchronous (GEO), eccentric (GTO and Molniya) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) orbits. To verify the system's capabilities, we conducted an observation campaign in 2017, 2018 and 2019 focused on astrometric and photometric measurements. In last two years we have built up a light curve catalogue of space debris which is now freely available for the scientific community. We report periodic signals extracted from more than 285 light curves of 226 individual objects. We constructed phase diagrams for 153 light curves for which we obtained apparent amplitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
02731177
Volume :
65
Issue :
8
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Advances in Space Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
142275261
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2020.01.038