Astrophotography of Fast-Moving Satellites

Abstract

Astrophotography remains a relatively inaccessible field due to the high costs of equipment, namely motorized mounts. Much remains to be explored in optimizing controls for mounts for fast and stable movement. This design project aims to obtain and process high-quality images of a wide range of space objects using a setup of a camera, a telescope, an in-house designed mechanical mount, control software, and interface software. This paper explores the scientific basis behind many of the design decisions made for this project, including the Dawes Limit, turbulent layers in the atmosphere, the Bayer matrix, mechanical backlash and stability, motor selection, and ease of manufacturing/control. It lays out a trajectory for future work, which will culminate in a full set of photographs of space objects with proper documentation of the best practices.