Optimization of Lunar Occultations for Determining the Positions of Point-like X-ray Sources
Abstract
In view of the scheduled satellite mission EXOSAT (European X-Ray Observatory Satellite) of ESA (European Space Agency) the lunar occultation technique to determine the position of point-like X-ray sources is investigated. An error analysis for the source coordinates resulting from this technique is presented and an occultation strategy is proposed to achieve optimum lunar occultations. The analysis takes into account the errors of the space coordinates of the satellite and the Moon, the unevenness of the lunar surface, the intensities of source and background, the apparent angular velocity of the Moon as seen from the satellite, the finite sizes of the preoccultation position error boxes of the X-ray sources and the inaccuracies in the satellite orbit correction manoeuvres necessary to achieve the occultations.
- Publication:
-
Astrophysics and Space Science
- Pub Date:
- July 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1007/BF00638914
- Bibcode:
- 1979Ap&SS..63..457B
- Keywords:
-
- Exosat Satellite;
- Lunar Occultation;
- Optimization;
- X Ray Astronomy;
- X Ray Sources;
- Angular Velocity;
- Error Analysis;
- European Space Programs;
- Graphs (Charts);
- Lunar Surface;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Astrophysics