Imaging approach to multiple star recognition: The algorithm, the results

Summary

The data collected by HIPPARCOS satellite can be used in an imaging approach, like in VLBI field, to reconstruct the stars system image and to extract the astrometric parameters.

The method is able to treat multiple star systems to determine the stars position and their intensities. It is not able to process variable stars, very faint stars and systems with high orbital motion.

This paper is devoted to give a short description of the approach and to present a complete outline of the implemented algorithm.

Results related to cpu time consuming and to reduction results are given with particular emphasis on detectable separation limits and parameters precision.