05-14-2017, 01:59 PM
HOTPE,
"I don't know for certain, but TomK may be able to tell us whether the entire TMT dome and telescope can move across the sky in 6 minutes or less in order to track the satellites you imagine it will follow."
I'm certain there's no way the TMT would be able to move fast enough to track a satellite in low earth orbit. A few months ago we tried to track a few LEO objects and it was very difficult, even on a much smaller 4-m class telescope. The orbital information changes rapidly so just accurately acquiring such an object can take a few minutes, so you need a wide-field camera and track blindly. The TMT isn't designed for wide-field work, so even if it could move fast enough it wouldn't be able to acquire the object.
In any case, what would be the point of the TMT doing this kind of work? LEO objects are bright and easily visible in much smaller and more maneuverable telescopes. They would also likely be far too bright for the TMT and saturate the detectors.
"I don't know for certain, but TomK may be able to tell us whether the entire TMT dome and telescope can move across the sky in 6 minutes or less in order to track the satellites you imagine it will follow."
I'm certain there's no way the TMT would be able to move fast enough to track a satellite in low earth orbit. A few months ago we tried to track a few LEO objects and it was very difficult, even on a much smaller 4-m class telescope. The orbital information changes rapidly so just accurately acquiring such an object can take a few minutes, so you need a wide-field camera and track blindly. The TMT isn't designed for wide-field work, so even if it could move fast enough it wouldn't be able to acquire the object.
In any case, what would be the point of the TMT doing this kind of work? LEO objects are bright and easily visible in much smaller and more maneuverable telescopes. They would also likely be far too bright for the TMT and saturate the detectors.