Sumários

Introduction to orbit mechanics - I

5 Novembro 2024, 08:00 André Maria da Silva Dias Moitinho de Almeida

  • Orbit Description
    • Ground traces
    • Orbit description: Keplerian elements
    • Orbit Observation and determination:
      • Two/Three Line Elements (TLSs)
      • Simplified Perturbation models (SGP, SGP4, SDP4, SGP8 and SDP8)
Further reading:
Chapter 4 of Fortescue et al. (Spacecraft Systems Engineering)


Telescopes, instruments and astronomical observatories - III

31 Outubro 2024, 11:30 André Maria da Silva Dias Moitinho de Almeida

  • Active optics
  • Comparison of primary mirror sizes and the evolution of their size.
  • Presentation of some of the best observatories in the world: Paranal, Mauna Kea, La Palma
  • The great telescopes of the next decade: the Extremely Large Telescopes, E-ELT, TMT and GMT
  • Astronomical observations in space. Reasons and presentation of recent ESA missions.
  • Radio telescopes (single dish and interferometry)
  • High energy observations: X-rays and gamma rays


CCD image processing (Part IV)

29 Outubro 2024, 09:00 André Maria da Silva Dias Moitinho de Almeida

Shutter effects

  • Creation and analysis of  shutter timing images
  • High frequency filtering (noise filtering): Boxcar and Gaussian convolution filtering
  • Correction of shutter timing in flatfield and object images


Telescopes, instruments and astronomical observatories - II

29 Outubro 2024, 08:00 André Maria da Silva Dias Moitinho de Almeida

  • Overcoming the effect of turbulence: Adaptive optics, laser guide stars
  • Reflecting telescopes and variations on their design.
  • Optical off-axis distortions


Telescopes, instruments and astronomical observatories (or instruments and technologies for astronomical observation) - I

24 Outubro 2024, 11:30 André Maria da Silva Dias Moitinho de Almeida

  • What does a telescope do?
  • Collecting area and its effect on light concentration and resolution. Diffraction limit concept.
  • Refracting telescopes.
  • Effects of atmospheric turbulence in the acquisition of images of space.

Further reading: Chap 2 and 3 of McLean (Electronic Imaging in Astronomy)