4 ms·

LSST/Vera is probably the project most impacted by these satellites. Per my contacts, smaller scopes like LBT/Keck/MMT aren't as drastically affected yet. But i

LSST/Vera is probably the project most impacted by these satellites. Per my contacts, smaller scopes like LBT/Keck/MMT aren't as drastically affected yet. But if we start approaching 100k+ satellites, even they will be having some major issues to deal with.

ISL 6y ago
The real tragedy, from a scientific standpoint in the optical, is that we're entering a new world of wide-field and sensitive time-domain astronomy due to huge improvements in computing power and sensors at the same time that humanity is about to generate thousands of bright transients. The only practical approach I can think of for combating the constellations is distributed arrays of wide-field transient-hunters. As long as the transient is common-mode across telescopes, then it is real. If there are three LSSTs, and not too many constellation-satellites, that might work. I just noted, in passing, that the term for the satellite arrays appears to be "constellation"; that is a bummer in this context.
spenczar5 6y ago
This is an area of very active work by the Rubin/LSST team. Some documents that might be of interest, pretty hot off the press: - "Mitigation of LEO Satellite Brightness and Trail Effects on the Rubin Observatory LSST" https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12417 https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12417 - "Mitigation of Satellite Tracks in LSST Data Processing" - https://aas.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/MitigationWG_Present5_bySaunders.pdf https://aas.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/MitigationWG_Pre... There are some good techniques available, and the very smartest experts on image processing are working on this task, so I think we'll manage.
nsilvestri 6y ago
correction to above (can't edit anymore): I meant smaller scopes, as in "smaller field of view" or immediate area of concern, not smaller in aperture

4 ms·

LSST/Vera is probably the project most impacted by these satellites. Per my contacts, smaller scopes like LBT/Keck/MMT aren't as drastically affected yet. But i

by nsilvestri 6y ago

ISL 6y ago
The real tragedy, from a scientific standpoint in the optical, is that we're entering a new world of wide-field and sensitive time-domain astronomy due to huge improvements in computing power and sensors at the same time that humanity is about to generate thousands of bright transients. The only practical approach I can think of for combating the constellations is distributed arrays of wide-field transient-hunters. As long as the transient is common-mode across telescopes, then it is real. If there are three LSSTs, and not too many constellation-satellites, that might work. I just noted, in passing, that the term for the satellite arrays appears to be "constellation"; that is a bummer in this context.
spenczar5 6y ago
This is an area of very active work by the Rubin/LSST team. Some documents that might be of interest, pretty hot off the press: - "Mitigation of LEO Satellite Brightness and Trail Effects on the Rubin Observatory LSST" https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12417 https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12417 - "Mitigation of Satellite Tracks in LSST Data Processing" - https://aas.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/MitigationWG_Present5_bySaunders.pdf https://aas.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/MitigationWG_Pre... There are some good techniques available, and the very smartest experts on image processing are working on this task, so I think we'll manage.
nsilvestri 6y ago
correction to above (can't edit anymore): I meant smaller scopes, as in "smaller field of view" or immediate area of concern, not smaller in aperture