SATELLITE NAVIGATION BY TERRESTRIAL OCCULTATIONS OF STARS I: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS NEGLECTING ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION AND EXTINCTION

Abstract

The condition for terrestrial occultation of a star as seen from a satellite is derived in terms of the orbital elements of the satellite and the equatorial coordinates of the star. An occultation equation relating the time of occultation to the orbital elements is also derived. Relevant stellar properties are discussed. The frequency of occultations as a function of perigee distance and eccentricity of the orbit is obtained. A general discussion of the minimum number of stars required for satellite navigation, and the corresponding limiting magnitude of the satellite-borne telescope is given. Except for references to other reports of this series where atmospheric effects are considered, all results are derived on the assumption that the earth is a perfect sphere and has no atmosphere.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0287867

Entities

People

  • Ali M. Naqvi

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Atmospheric Refraction
  • Celestial Mechanics
  • Circular Orbits
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Corporations
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Geophysics
  • Intensity
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • New York
  • Orbital Elements
  • Refraction
  • Satellite Orbits
  • Solar System
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris