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

地面光学观测站需要漆黑的夜空来回答有关宇宙本质的问题。然而，公司和政府正在向近地轨道发射许多明亮的卫星。这些“超级星座”将从根本上改变天文观测。夜间的图像会有一些条纹，这是由被太阳照射的卫星经过造成的。随着计划发射10万颗或更多这样的卫星进入地球轨道，将对天文学产生负面影响。如果在未来十年内不加以缓解，这将改变地面光学天文学。像鲁宾天文台的传统时空巡天（LSST）这样的宽视场巡天受到的影响最大。来自卫星星座的眩光影响着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）的不同阶段，其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计划，将对若干减缓战略的科学影响进行评估并探索其有效性。像鲁宾天文台这样的宽视场天空调查受到的影响最大。PI将开发用于CCD图像处理的新算法，一种避免最亮LEOsat的高级策略，一种掩盖LEOsat条纹的新方法，使用Rubin天文台的调试相机对LEOsat条纹的影响进行天空探索，验证这些缓解策略，以及对LSST观测的全面模拟以及由此产生的对关键科学的影响，这些影响来自数据中数百万LEOsat轨迹的剩余系统误差。向更广泛的社区推广的努力将包括参加SATCON-1、SATCON-2和黑暗与安静的天空研讨会，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，被认为值得支持。

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.