Measurement, Simulation, and Mitigation of the Impact of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Constellations on Wide-Field Optical Surveys

地面光学天文台需要黑暗的夜空来回答有关我们宇宙性质的问题。然而，公司和政府正在向低地球轨道（LEO）发射许多明亮的卫星。这些“巨型星座”将从根本上改变天文观测。夜间图像将有条纹造成的太阳照明卫星的通道。随着计划发射100，000或更多的此类卫星绕地球运行，将对天文学产生负面影响。如果在未来十年内没有缓解，这将改变地基光学天文学。宽视场天空调查，如鲁宾天文台的时空遗产调查（LSST）受到的影响最大。 来自卫星星座的眩光影响专业和业余天文学家以及公众。 为了解决这些问题，PI建议采取多种缓解措施，包括与SpaceX的团队合作。许多公司和政府正处于规划或部署低地球轨道（LEOsats）明亮卫星的不同阶段，数量比以往任何时候都要多。鉴于几家公司正在推进其星座，将对科学影响进行评估，并探索几种缓解战略的有效性。像鲁宾天文台这样的广域天空调查受到的影响最大。 PI将开发CCD图像处理的新算法，避免最亮LEOSat的先进战略，掩盖LEOSat条纹的新方法，使用Rubin天文台的调试相机在天空中探索LEOSat条纹的影响，验证这些缓解战略，和LSST观测的全面模拟，以及由此产生的对关键科学的影响，这些科学是来自地球上数以百万计的LEOSat轨迹的残余系统误差。数据对更广泛社区的推广工作将涉及参加SATCON-1，SATCON-2和黑暗安静天空研讨会，以及在年度鲁宾天文台项目和社区研讨会上的演讲。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Ground based optical observatories require a dark night sky to answer questions about the nature of our universe. However, companies and governments are launching many bright satellites into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). These “mega constellations” will fundamentally change astronomical observing. Night-time images will have streaks caused by the passage of sun-illuminated satellites. With the planned launch of 100,000 or more of these satellites to orbit the earth, there will be negative impacts on astronomy. Without mitigation in the next decade this will transform ground based optical astronomy. Wide field sky surveys such as Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) are most impacted. The glare from satellite constellations impacts professional and amateur astronomers as well as the general public. To address these issues, the PI proposes to pursue multiple mitigations that includes working with the team at SpaceX.A number of companies and governments are in various stages of planning or deploying bright satellites in Low-Earth Orbit (LEOsats) in greater numbers than ever before. Given that several companies are going ahead with their constellations, an assessment of the science impact and exploration of the effectiveness of several mitigation strategies will be made. Wide-field sky surveys like the Rubin Observatory are most impacted. The PI will develop novel algorithms for CCD image processing, an advanced strategy for avoiding the brightest LEOsats, a new method of masking LEOsat streaks, on-sky exploration of the effects of LEOsat streaks using Rubin Observatory’s commissioning camera, validation of these mitigation strategies, and full simulations of LSST observing and resulting impact on key science of the residual systematic errors from the millions of LEOsat trails in the data. Outreach efforts to the wider community will involve attendance at SATCON-1, SATCON-2, and Dark & Quiet Skies workshops, as well as presentations at the annual Rubin Observatory Project and Community WorkshopThis award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.