Image Enhancement Using the IRAS (Infrared Astronomy Satellite) Survey Data

Abstract

An improved global calibration was derived and image enhancement techniques developed to increase the image quality, sensitivity, and spatial resolution of maps from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) survey data. These goals were achieved by augmenting and extending GEISHA (Groningen Exportable IRAS High-resolution Analysis) system. A completely new calibration scheme using the zodiacal light emission as a standard candle has been designed and implemented. This calibration is better suited for smaller spatial frequencies. Comparison of the zodiacal light calibration and that of IPAC (IRAS Processing and Analysis), for point sources, gives very satisfactory results (<10%) at the wavelengths 12, 25, and 60 microns, but a 50 % error at 100 microns. Also scans making an angle larger than 5 deg with the plane perpendicular to the line Sun-IRAS cannot be calibrated properly. An iterative least squates (ILSQ) routine has been prepared that makes it possible to enhance the resolution of an IRAS image to slightly better than 2 arc minutes for most regions of sky. The output of this routine is directly traceable to the input and the method is rather straightforward. Our ILSQ program is ideal for creating large spatial resolution enhanced images, and for checking e.g. maximum entropy results. A spline-smoothed plate system was created as well, consisting of 40 instead of 363 tapes. Images with a resolution of 8 arc minutes can be made using this data base, and because of the low spatial resolution it is feasible to make images of very large sky regions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA213811

Entities

People

  • P. R. Wesselius

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Aspect Angle
  • Calibration
  • Candles
  • Classification
  • Data Processing
  • Databases
  • Detectors
  • Emission
  • Frequency
  • Grids
  • High Resolution
  • Magnetic Tape
  • Photonic Metamaterials
  • Standards
  • Zodiacal Light

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy/Astrophysics
  • Computer Vision.
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Space