Preserving dark skies with neuromorphic camera technology

随着卫星星座在近地轨道（LEO）上开始形成，卫星条纹污染在宽视场天文成像中变得越来越普遍。由于未来十年将发射数万颗卫星，这个问题似乎会变得更糟。卫星轨迹通常具有很大的不确定性，再加上它们在天空中的快速角运动，这使得可靠地预测它们是否/何时会进入望远镜的视野变得具有挑战性。由于这些星座一直存在，天文学家迫切需要采取预防措施。神经形态（基于事件的）相机技术在这一领域有着巨大的前景。基于事件的相机试图复制生物视网膜的功能，有效地只记录场景中有意义的信息。它们能够以比基于帧的替代方案低得多的数据速率提供近乎连续的信息流，这两种特性都有利于快速响应系统。我们的目标是开发一种双重用途的仪器，使天文学和空间域感知（SDA）社区都受益，利用神经形态技术：通过精炼现有（通常是过时的）轨道状态信息来探测卫星和补充目录。对即将污染某一天文领域的卫星提供早期预警。能力(1)在快速增长的SDA市场中具有巨大的商业潜力，在国家空间战略中强调，英国政府有雄心在该领域建立全球领导地位。由于近地轨道人口激增，现有的监视网络承受着巨大的压力，因此有必要开发新的主权SDA传感器。拟议的项目将探索神经形态相机在应用于空间监视时的能力。具体来说，我们确定了以下关键目标：在我们的校园天文台调试一个原型仪器，包括最新一代神经形态相机和现有的华威仪器，随后在我们在加那利群岛拉帕尔马的设施。开发用于数据简化、亮度和位置校准、卫星检测和轨迹优化的软件，基于项目负责人在stfc资助的博士研究生期间开发的现有算法。在考虑卫星污染问题和SDA要求的情况下，模拟不同传感器架构，建立预警系统的最优观测策略。概念验证研究，以验证原型仪器的传感器架构模拟结果，利用编目信息评估仪器在各种情况下的性能。

Satellite streak contamination is becoming increasingly prevalent in wide-field astronomical imaging, as constellations of satellites are beginning to take shape in low Earth orbit (LEO). The problem looks set to worsen, with tens of thousands of satellites due to launch over the coming decade. The typically large uncertainties in satellite trajectories, coupled with their fast angular motion across the sky, make it challenging to reliably predict if/when they will pass within the field of view of a telescope. With the constellations here to stay, astronomers are urgently in need of preventative measures.Neuromorphic (event-based) camera technology holds great promise for this area. Event-based cameras seek to replicate the functionality of the biological retina, efficiently registering only the meaningful information in a scene. They are capable of providing a near-continuous stream of information with much lower data rates than frame-based alternatives, both favourable characteristics for a rapid-response system.We aim to develop a dual-purpose instrument to benefit both the astronomy and space domain awareness (SDA) communities, utilising neuromorphic technology to:Detect satellites and supplement catalogues by refining existing (often out-of-date) orbital state information.Provide early warning of satellites on course to contaminate an astronomical field of interest.Capability (1) has significant commercial potential within the rapidly growing SDA market, highlighted in the National Space Strategy as an area in which the UK government has ambitions to establish global leadership. Existing surveillance networks are under immense strain due to the soaring population in LEO and there is a drive to develop new sovereign SDA sensors.The proposed project will explore the capabilities of neuromorphic cameras when applied to space surveillance. Specifically, we identify the following key objectives:Commissioning of a prototype instrument comprising a latest-generation neuromorphic camera and existing Warwick instrumentation at our campus observatory, and subsequently at our facilities in La Palma, Canary Islands.Development of software for data reduction, calibrations for brightness and position, satellite detection, and trajectory refinement, building from existing algorithms developed during the Project Lead's STFC-funded PhD studentship.Simulation of different sensor architectures to establish an optimal observational strategy for the early warning system, taking both the satellite contamination problem and requirements for SDA into consideration.Proof-of-concept study to validate the findings from the sensor architecture simulation with the prototype instrument, making use of catalogued information to assess the instrument's performance when faced with a variety of scenarios.