POINTS: A Small Astrometric Interferometer In Space

Robert D. Reasenberg

doi:10.1117/12.950414

21 February 1986 POINTS: A Small Astrometric Interferometer In Space

Robert D. Reasenberg

Proceedings Volume 0571, Large Optics Technology; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950414
Event: 29th Annual Technical Symposium, 1985, San Diego, United States

Abstract

Numerous astrophysical objectives could be achieved with an astrometric instrument able to measure the angular separation of a pair of widely separated stars with an uncertainty of a few microarcseconds. An instrument that could make tens of measurements per day would form the basis for a multifarious scientific program. Although more complex, an astrometric interferometer offers a substantially larger information rate than a comparably-sized astrometric telescope for most applications. POINTS (Precision Optical INTerferometry in Space) is a design concept for an astrometric interferometer originally conceived as a means of performing the light deflection experiment of general relativity to second order. The present "strawman" version, which has a pair of 2 m baselines and four 25 cm telescopes, would fit fully assembled with a support spacecraft in one-third of the Shuttle bay. For a pair of tenth-magnitude stars about 90° apart, POINTS would yield the separation uncertain by 5 μas after a 10-minute observation. We consider both the design of the instrument and aspects of a mission.

Citation Download Citation

Robert D. Reasenberg "POINTS: A Small Astrometric Interferometer In Space", Proc. SPIE 0571, Large Optics Technology, (21 February 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950414

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