Re: Space situational awareness upgrades

http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v37n4/aas207/1646.htm

AAS 207th Meeting, 8-12 January 2006
Session 173 Instrumentation: Ground Based or Airbourne
Poster, Thursday, 9:20am-4:00pm, January 12, 2006, Exhibit Hall

[173.14] The Near Earth Space Surveillance Initiative (NESSI) Precision
Astrometric and Photometric Survey

J. T. McGraw (Univ. of New Mexico), G. F. Benedict (Univ. of Texas -
Austin), M. R. Ackermann (Sandia National Labs.), P. C. Zimmer, W. T.
Williams, W. H. Gerstle (Univ. of New Mexico), Lt. Col. C. J. Wetterer
(US AF Acad.), Lt. E. Golden (AF Research Lab.), University of New
Mexico NESSI Team

The Near Earth Space Surveillance Initiative (NESSI), an AFRL-funded
collaboration between the University of Texas at Austin and the
University of New Mexico, includes a unique 1.8-m imaging astrometric
and photometric telescope and a large, segmented-mirror, dedicated
spectroscopic telescope. We describe design aspects of the imaging
telescope, including the optical system, structure, focal plane mosaic
and the detector readout system that allows precise astrometric and
photometric measurements.

The scientific design drivers for the imaging telescope include: 1.
Discovery and measurement of motion and distance for late M, L and T
stars, which drives robust detection of faint objects with unique (red)
colors, and astrometric precision for precise position and parallax
determination, 2. Synoptic photometric monitoring of active galactic
nuclei (AGN) which drives time-domain characterization of faint,
variable objects, and 3. Discovery and near real-time spectroscopic
follow-up of distant supernovae and AGN outbursts, which drives
immediate target-of-opportunity detection and response.

These drivers are addressed in the design of a wide field-of-view
stationary telescope that employs the time-delay and integrate (TDI)
readout mode for CCD detectors to produce a deep, multicolor image of
the sky every clear night. Because the telescope is stationary, it
observes approximately the same region of the sky on successive nights,
and a complete small circle on the sky after a year. This strip
geometry produces the time domain photometric and repeated astrometric
measurements required to address the science drivers.

The telescope, its focal plane mosaic and the data system all
incorporate unique and innovative elements that support future sky
surveys.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://research.unm.edu/publications/CandGAwards05.pdf

CONTRACT & GRANT AWARDS, fiscal year 2005, is published by
the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development.
The University of New Mexico
MSC05 3370
Scholes Hall, Room 102
Albuquerque, NM 87131
505/277-2256
research@xxxxxxx
http://research.unm.edu

John McGraw
National Science Foundation $456,238
Development of an Atmospheric Extinction LIDAR for the
CCD/Transit Instrument

John McGraw
Air Force Research Laboratory $276,488
Air Force Space Surveillance Telescope (AFSST): Extremely
Wide Field of View Telescope Optics for Blind Satellite Search

John McGraw
University of Texas, Austin $5,152,000
Near Earth Space Surveillance Initiative (NESSI)

.

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