Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “CELESTIAL SPHERE”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

A simple technique for estimating EUVE sky survey exposure times

A simple way to estimate accumulated exposure time over the celestial sphere for a scanning telescope in earth orbit is described. Primary constraints on observation time, such as earth blockage, solar occultation, and passage through the South Atlantic Anomaly, are modeled using relatively straightforward, mainly closed-form geometrical solutions. The resulting algorithm is implemented on a desktop microcomputer. Though not rigorously precise, the algorithm is sufficient for conducting preliminary mission design studies for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE).

Carlisle, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Display of celestial surveys conducted from orbit

Two methods are described for graphically displaying and numerically analyzing surveys of the celestial sphere as conducted by astronomical satellites. The methods are applicable to the design phase of a mission, for planning during operations, and for post-mission display of results. Both methods have been tested in use, including application to the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).

Mclaughlin, W. I.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A search for Earth-approaching asteroids

New automated methods were developed for the detection and discrimination of Earth-approaching asteriods. Specifically, utilizing state-of-the-art, electron-bombarded, silicon diode, beam scanned, low light level television cameras and the most advanced video processing equipment available. The improvement of the limiting magnitude for a 50% probability of detection, increase the areal search rate, and minimize the burden on humans of the search effort. To this end, three increasingly automated and sophisticated versions of the data acquisition, storage, and processing systems, were designed and implemented. The celestial sphere were searched for Earth-approaching minor planets. An example of this effort is the recent cataloging of 1982 HS=3343 VNEDZEL. This particular high eccentricity, high inclination object is of a type even more rare than are Earth-approaching asteriods. Several of these were found.

Taff, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Celestial target observability for astro spacelab missions

This report presents the mathematical technique for calculating the amount of time that an astronomical object, e.g., a star, can be observed from a satellite in near Earth orbit. This includes the places and times in the orbit where the object is acquired and where it is lost. Constraints placed on the observation of the object, such as the line-of-sight from observer to the target must not come within less than some specified angle to the limb of the Earth, are included in the calculations. The equations developed within the report are then used for a detailed analysis of the observation possibilities for objects at any place on the celestial sphere for a typical Spacelab ASTRO mission. The results, presented in graphic form, are suitable for use in pre-mission planning and also for use in real-time replanning.

Mullins, Larry D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and the local interstellar medium

The EUV Explorer (EUVE) mission is described, with emphasis on the overall capabilities of the instrumentation and the relevance of the mission to determining parameters of the local interstellar medium. The primary purpose of the mission is to search the celestial sphere for astronomical sources of EUV radiation (100-1000 A). The search will be accomplished with the use of three EUV telescopes, sensitive to different segments of the EUV band. A fourth telescope will perform a high-sensitivity search of a limited sample of the sky in the shortest-wavelength bands. The all-sky survey will be carried out in the first six months of the mission. The second six months of the mission, conducted entirely by Guest Investigators selected by NASA, will be devoted to spectroscopic observations of selected EUV sources. The instrumentation is now well developed. The best mirror has full-width/half-energy spread of 8 arcsec and a surface finish of 20 A. Prototype thin-film bandpass filters have been flown on the Space Shuttle and their performance optimized. Prototype detectors have been developed which have 600 by 600-pixel imaging capability and up to 80-percent quantum efficiency in parts of the EUV band.

Bowyer, Stuart↗
NASA NTRS1986

The NASA SETI program at JPL

The NASA All Sky Survey strategy for detecting signals of extraterrestrial origin is examined. The All Sky Survey observes the entire celestial sphere, covers a frequency range of 1-10 Ghz, and has spatial direction and frequency coverage. The survey time is dependent on the area of the sky surveyed, the telescope diameter, scan rate, the angular separation of the scans, the bandwidth of the receiver, and the frequency coverage. The distance at which a transmitter can be detected for a given sensitivity is analyzed. The interaction between scan strategy and various accumulation strategies and its effect on the sensitivity of the survey are investigated using field tests. A diagram of the SETI Sky Survey observational system is provided.

Gulkis, Sam↗
NASA NTRS1986

IRAS survey of asteroids

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) scanned the celestial sphere during 1983 through bandpasses centered at wavelengths of 12, 25, 60 and 100 microns. In addition to sources fixed on the sky, many moving objects were observed. This data set is the largest and least biased survey of asteroids and comets ever conducted. Included are main belt asteroids, Mars-crossers, earth-approachers, and Trojans. Measurements for the known asteroids have been reduced and organized into a number of data products which are available to researchers. The data for 'new' asteroids are being processed.

Matson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

IRAS observations of comets

The moderate spatial resolution and high sensitivity of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), which surveyed the celestial sphere during 1983 at wavelengths of 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns, were particularly well suited to detecting extended thermal emission from cometary dust. Sources with infrared color temperatures characteristic of solar system bodies, and at the ephemerides position of known comets were selected for analysis by the IRAS Asteroid Data Analysis System (ADAS). The data base is now available for use by researchers. This paper describes the development of the data base, details its entries, and presents a statistical analysis of its contents. The IRAS survey contains multiple observations of many periodic comets. A brief description and analysis is given of the observed infrared and derived physical properties for several comets of special interest.

Walker, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Models of sporadic meteor body distributions

The distribution of orbital elements and flux density over the celestial sphere are the most common forms of representation of the meteor body distribution in the vicinity of the Earth's orbit. The determination of flux density distribution of sporadic meteor bodies was worked out. The method and its results are discussed.

Andreev, V. V.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Density variations of meteor flux along the Earth's orbit

No model of distribution of meteor substance is known to explain the observed diurnal and annual variations of meteor rates, if that distribution is assumed to be constant during the year. Differences between the results of observations and the prediction of diurnal variation rates leads to the conclusion that the density of the orbits of meteor bodies changes with the motion of the Earth along its orbit. The distributions of the flux density over the celestial sphere are obtained by the method described previously by Svetashkova, 1984. The results indicate that the known seasonal and latitudinal variations of atmospheric conditions does not appear to significantly affect the value of the mean flux density of meteor bodies and the matter influx onto the Earth.

Svetashkova, N. T.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Astrometric results of 1978-1985 Deep Space Network radio interferometry - The JPL 1987-1 extragalactic source catalog

An astrometric radio reference frame has been determined from intercontinental dual-frequency radio interferometric measurements. These measurements were carried out on a regular basis during 1978-1985 between NASA's Deep Space Network stations in California, Spain, and Australia. Analysis of 6800 pairs of delay and delay-rate observations made during 51 sessions produced estimates of 1300 parameters. The most significant of these are geophysical quantities and positions of extragalactic sources. The source catalog resulting from this analysis includes 106 sources fairly uniformly distributed over the celestial sphere, north of -45 deg declination. Almost all of the resulting source positions have formal uncertainties between 0.5 and 3 milliarcseconds (mas), with rms values of 2 mas in both angular coordinates. Internal consistency checks, as well as comparisons with independently determined source catalogs of comparable quality, indicate that relative source coordinates determined by VLBI contain systematic errors at the level of 1 to 2 mas.

Sovers, O. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 5: The point source catalog declination range -30 deg greater than delta greater than -50 deg

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, IRAS surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. This is Volume 5, The Point Source Catalog Declination Range -30 deg greater than delta greater than -50 deg.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 4: The point source catalog declination range 0 deg greater than delta greater than -30 deg

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched 26 January 1983. During its 300-day mission, it surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. This is Volume 4, The Point Source Catalog Declination Range 0 deg greater than delta greater than -30 deg.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 2: The point source catalog declination range 90 deg greater than delta greater than 30 deg

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, IRAS surveyed 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. This is Volume 2, The Point Source Catalog Declination Range 90 deg greater than delta greater than 30 deg.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 6: The point source catalog declination range -50 deg greater than delta greater than -90 deg

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, it surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. This is Volume 6, The Point Source Catalog Declination Range -50 deg greater than delta greater than -90 deg.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 7: The small scale structure catalog

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, it surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. Volume 1 describes the instrument, the mission, and the data reduction process. Volumes 2 through 6 present the observations of the approximately 245,000 individual point sources detected by IRAS; each volume gives sources within a specified range of declination. Volume 7 gives the observations of the approximately 16,000 sources spatially resolved by IRAS and smaller than 8'. This is Volume 7, The Small Scale Structure Catalog.

Helou, George↗
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 3: The point source catalog declination range 30 deg greater than delta greater than 0 deg

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, IRAS surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. This is Volume 3, The Point Source Catalog Declination Range 30 deg greater than delta greater than 0 deg.

Source record↗