Exploring the nature of  sub-second optical flashes in the night sky

W. Thomas Vestrand; Yancey H. Sechrest; Robert J Hill Jr.; David M. Palmer; Lucas P Parker; Przemek R. Wozniak

doi:10.1117/12.2629597

25 August 2022 Exploring the nature of sub-second optical flashes in the night sky

W. Thomas Vestrand, Yancey H. Sechrest, Robert J Hill Jr., David M. Palmer, Lucas P Parker, Przemek R. Wozniak

Proceedings Volume 12186, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems IX; 121860K (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629597
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Abstract

The recent discovery of sub-second, bright, optical flashes in the night sky has generated questions about their origin. Are they all just a class of previously unknown glints from space debris? Or are some of the flashes of astrophysical origin? We discuss a stereoscopic ranging system, currently under construction, designed to detect bright flashes during a two-year observational survey and discriminate, on a flash-by-flash basis, foreground space debris glints from astrophysical flashes. The survey will enable a search for sub-second astrophysical flashes with an estimated sensitivity that is at least an order of magnitude better than existing limits.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

W. Thomas Vestrand, Yancey H. Sechrest, Robert J Hill Jr., David M. Palmer, Lucas P Parker, and Przemek R. Wozniak "Exploring the nature of sub-second optical flashes in the night sky", Proc. SPIE 12186, Observatory Operations: Strategies, Processes, and Systems IX, 121860K (25 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629597

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