UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS

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2024-11-23 17:44
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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2023 Meeting


Section: Atomic and Molecular Physics. Astrophysics. Applications


Title:
Automated Photometric Survey of Inactive Satellites (APSIS)


Authors:
Mirela Mădălina TRELIA(1,2), Dan Alin NEDELCU(2,3), Mirel BIRLAN(1,2,3)


*
Affiliation:
1) University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Doctoral School of Physics, Str. Atomiștilor 405, Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania, madalina.trelia@astro.ro

2) Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, Str. Cuțitul de Argint 5, 040557 Bucharest, Romania

3) IMCCE, Paris Observatory, 77 av. Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris cedex France


E-mail
madalina.trelia@aira.astro.ro


Keywords:
space debris, light-curves, photometry, rotational dynamics


Abstract:
The last decade is marked by a significant increase in the number of artificial space objects orbiting the Earth. The Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (AIRA), as a participant in the EUSST consortium, conducts astrometric astronomical observations for artificial space objects located in orbits between 1000 and 36,000 kilometers in altitude (MEO, GEO, HEO orbits). Recently, within AIRA, an extended photometric study of inactive satellites located in graveyard orbits, where all decommissioned geosynchronous satellites reside, has been initiated. The Automated Photometric Survey of Inactive Satellites (APSIS) program, which generates quasi-real-time data, is constantly being developed, allowing the analysis of light curves and rotation periods of the objects of interest. Each set of observations consisted of acquiring 1500 images with short exposure times (0.5s - 1s) using the HARET telescope, located at the Berthelot Observatory (MPC Code: L54) in the General Berthelot commune, Hunedoara County. Differential photometry techniques were used to determine light curves and rotation periods for a sample of visible inactive satellites during the study. The obtained light curves were compared with synthetic ones generated using a typical box-wing geostationary satellite model under various illumination conditions and phase angles. The results of these comparisons will be the basis for utilizing the light curve inversion technique to extract the physical characteristics of space objects. This presentation will include the results of observations for 20 satellites, as well as their light curves. Additionally, three of these objects were observed at different moments in time during the study, allowing for the observation of their rotation period evolution.