Effects of star crossings on the detection of dim objects in orbit and mitigation strategies for improving detection

Brent Gessel; S. Cain

doi:10.1117/12.2049062

3 June 2014 Effects of star crossings on the detection of dim objects in orbit and mitigation strategies for improving detection

Brent Gessel, S. Cain

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9085, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications VII; 908502 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049062
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

Detecting objects in space that are potentially hazardous to satellites or our population is an important problem that is growing every year as more objects are launched and collisions between objects introduce more debris. The problem of detecting these objects using Earth-based optical telescopes is challenging, but is generally dictated by available light and atmospheric seeing conditions. In this paper a related problem is described and demonstrated involving the detection of objects that are near brighter objects like stars. Starlight creates the expected problem of increasing the amount of noise and extra light in the region around it, but in this paper the effect of spatial operations carried out by traditional space object detection algorithms is factored in. These spatial processing effects magnify the contribution of stray starlight and cause large zones around stars to form that make detection of any space debris within them very difficult. This paper documents a new algorithm that can mitigate this effect and facilitate the detection of objects near stars.

Citation Download Citation

Brent Gessel and S. Cain "Effects of star crossings on the detection of dim objects in orbit and mitigation strategies for improving detection", Proc. SPIE 9085, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications VII, 908502 (3 June 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2049062

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available