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High-accuracy positioning: astrometry

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Observing Photons in Space

Part of the book series: ISSI Scientific Report Series ((ISSI,volume 9))

Abstract

The limiting accuracy for measuring the location of an optical image is set by diffraction and photon noise, i.e., by the dual wave–particle nature of light. A theoretical expression for the limiting accuracy is derived under idealized conditions and generalized to take into account more realistic circumstances, such as additive noise and finite pixel size. Its application is discussed in relation to different space-astrometry techniques including grid modulation, direct imaging, and interferometry.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lund Observatory, 43, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden

    Lennart Lindegren

Authors
  1. Lennart Lindegren
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Martin C. E. Huber , Anuschka Pauluhn  & Alex Zehnder ,  & 

  2. Mullard Space Science Lab, University College London, Dorking, Surrey, UK

    J. Len Culhane

  3. Nightsen, Inc., Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA

    J. Gethyn Timothy

  4. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    Klaus Wilhelm

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Lindegren, L. (2013). High-accuracy positioning: astrometry. In: Huber, M.C.E., Pauluhn, A., Culhane, J.L., Timothy, J.G., Wilhelm, K., Zehnder, A. (eds) Observing Photons in Space. ISSI Scientific Report Series, vol 9. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7804-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7804-1_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7803-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7804-1

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