Astrometric Interferometry in Space

Mike Shao (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Abstract:

This lecture will describe how space astrometry is conducted. Ground based interferometric astrometry is tied to the rotation of the Earth. In space, the platform (the spacecraft) is much less stable than the Earth, while at the same time, we want to achieve much higher accuracy. The lecture will describe how a space based astrometric interferometer would synthesize a microarcsec stable platform using "guide" stars and optical metrology. The 2nd major topic of the talk will be on systematic errors in space astrometric measurements. What types of instrumental errors are expected, how large instrumental biases can be corrected through calibration and "chopping".

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A note on the use of Summer School material.

Suggested Reading:

• Long-Baseline Optical and Near-Infrared Interferometry
  M. Shao and M.M. Colavita,
  Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 30, 457-498 (1992).