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Minds Eye Observatory is contributing astrometry on select artificial satellites (Artsat's) to contribute to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Satellite Database via SeeSat-L. The UCS Database serves as an important open source, transparent listing of satellites currently orbiting Earth, including their country of origin, purpose, and other operational details for use in research and analysis. This database has been building since inception in 2005. With the almost daily increase in satellite launches into orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is an ever increasing challenge.You can read much more about UCS's role in this important database here.
2023 UCS ArtSat Database Excel File
A Brief Overview of Satellite Tracking Run at MEO
A Brief Overview of Satellite Tracking Run at MEO
A typical spacecraft tracking run consist of downloading current NORAD Two Line elements (TLE) from a few sources such as Celestrak, Space-Track and Mike McCants repository which includes classified Artsat TLE. After updating the TLE in all software being used Target selection is the next step.
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Normal mount calibration and camera cooling would be done at this point. Checking the Global Positioning System (GPS) almanac updates and ensuring a GPS signal lock and solution for accurate time is next. Performing Telescope focusing and taking camera calibration frames if necessary is next. After calibrations are done we can slew the scope to an area close to the satellite pass Acquisition of Signal (AOG) and perform a plate solve-sync to check and refine position errors.
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Next I slew to the predicated pass position and await AOG. The mount is configured to slew or "leapfrog" ahead of the pass while the camera takes exposers. When the signal is lost in the field of view the mount will again slew "leapFrog" ahead of the satellite and await the acquisition of signal again. This "leapfrog process will continue until stopped manually or the signal goes below my set parameters such as air mass settings. When imaging a Geostationary satellite the mount would slew to acquire the signal and tracking would be turned off to keep the target centered. The pass timing can be off considerably ahead or behind the predicted time due to old Elemental Set (Elset)s or atmospheric drag.
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Later, these images can be used to measure the satellites position based on the star field using a star catalogue. This is called astrometry. After the data is reduced the measurements are converted to a format such as IOD and shared to be used in generating a new TLE.
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Satellite Tracking Examples from MEO
artsat pass (28541)Position measurements converted to IOD format foruse in orbital TLE
arsat pass (37391) Irregular trackPosition measurements converted to IOD format foruse in orbital TLE
37391 B2024 05 30.09630112 42 17.630-10 00 11.08 12.0 G W42 37391 B2024 05 30.09631012 42 39.542-10 09 13.90 13.9 G W42----- end -----
37391 B2024 05 30.09630112 42 17.630-10 00 11.08 12.0 G W42 37391 B2024 05 30.09631012 42 39.542-10 09 13.90 13.9 G W42----- end -----
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