Photometric Observation of Defunct Satellites Using Small Telescopes: Preliminary Results
Abdul Rachman (a*), Thomas Djamaluddin (a), Alessandro Vananti (b)

a) Research Center for Space, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia
*abdr001[at]brin.go.id
b) Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Abstract

Light curve analysis of space debris is one of the methods that is applicable to identify their attitude in orbit. Detailed information of debris characteristics is important, among other things, to mitigate its hazards to operational satellites and people on Earth. Kupang Space Observational Station at Tilong (as supporting facility for Timau National Observatory) currently operates several small optical telescopes with CCD camera and robotic capability. Those telescopes are suitable for monitoring space debris. A set-up for photometric observation has been configured and some preliminary results have been obtained and compared to the previous results from the same objects contained in AIUB Light Curve Database which is maintained by the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB) in Switzerland. In the case of defunct GLONASS satellites, as a sample, our limited result shows consistency with the reference. It was able to show similar light curve morphology with the ones in the AIUB database. Typically, four peaks appear in a phase diagram of decommissioned GLONASS satellites which resemble their four sides. Physically, a quasi-periodic light curve indicates rotating debris, while a complex light curve indicates a tumbling debris likely due to collision or other disturbances. This result, while only preliminary, is inspiring considering that the primary telescope objective of the current set-up is only 20 cm in maximum compared to the reference database which is based on a 1-m telescope.

Keywords: Photometric observation- Space debris- Defunct satellites

Topic: EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, AND SPACE SCIENCE