Airplanes and satellites: how to keep LGS operations efficient and safe at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

Gustavo Rahmer; Michael Lefebvre; Julian C. Christou

doi:10.1117/12.2314105

10 July 2018 Airplanes and satellites: how to keep LGS operations efficient and safe at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory

Gustavo Rahmer, Michael Lefebvre, Julian C. Christou

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10704, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VII; 107042P (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314105
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

During laser propagation we are required to prevent the accidental illumination of aircraft and satellites. The first requirement is fulfilled by constantly monitoring air traffic in the vicinity of the observatory and stopping propagation when an airplane gets close to the laser propagation direction, as detected by an automatic aircraft detection system.

Satellite avoidance is accomplished through coordination with the military-operated Laser Clearinghouse (LCH), which provides a daily list of allowable time windows for every potential target on the sky. Unlike aircraft avoidance, satellite avoidance is predictive and therefore can be integrated in the planning for telescope operations.

We describe and discuss the impact of both avoidance schemes on the operation efficiency of the observatory.

Citation Download Citation

Gustavo Rahmer, Michael Lefebvre, and Julian C. Christou "Airplanes and satellites: how to keep LGS operations efficient and safe at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory", Proc. SPIE 10704, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems VII, 107042P (10 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314105

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