Space-based CCD experiment for high-precision astrometry

Stuart B. Shaklan; Steven H. Pravdo

doi:10.1117/12.158799

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1 November 1993 Space-based CCD experiment for high-precision astrometry

Stuart B. Shaklan, Steven H. Pravdo

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Proceedings Volume 1945, Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments II; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.158799
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The Astrometric Imaging Telescope, an orbiting 1.5 m low-distortion Ritchey-Chretien, will use a large format CCD to record star trails as the CCD is dragged across the image plane. Star-trail separations, when averaged over thousands of pixels, yield photon-noise limited centroids with 10 micro-arcsecond accuracy. In this paper, we will discuss the important CCD and optical design parameters that affect astrometric accuracy. For the CCD, these include charge transfer efficiency, pixel-to-pixel relative quantum efficiency, sub-pixel QE gradients, and systematic pixel dislocations. For optical design, they are tolerancing to parameters such as secondary mirror decenter and tilt, and conic constants. We present a point design for a system that can achieve 10 micro-arcsecond accuracy over a long-term mission. End-to-end modeling, including high precision diffraction calculations, is used to validate the design.

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Stuart B. Shaklan and Steven H. Pravdo "Space-based CCD experiment for high-precision astrometry", Proc. SPIE 1945, Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments II, (1 November 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.158799

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