Subpixel centroiding algorithm for EMCCD star tracker

Yufeng Li; Dongmei Li; Yanbo Liang

doi:10.1117/12.807100

2 February 2009 Subpixel centroiding algorithm for EMCCD star tracker

Yufeng Li, Dongmei Li, Yanbo Liang

Proceedings Volume 7157, 2008 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Advanced Sensor Technologies and Applications; 715715 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.807100
Event: International Conference of Optical Instrument and Technology, 2008, Beijing, China

Abstract

Star tracker is the most precision attitude measurement instrument of spacecrafts, which plays a very important role in attitude measurement and control system. The technology of star tracker based on CCD is very popular. Unfortunately, with a CCD system, a single integration period for the entire sensor is necessitated. This leads low data output and update slowly. Moreover, CCD star tracker is not proper to micro-spacecraft because its volume, weight and energy consume cannot further decrease. Thus, the novel electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) is starting their way in space applications field. Centroiding algorithm is a subpixel position determination method proper to star position calculation because of its high accuracy and simplicity. But its position accuracy is affected by various kinds of noise. In this paper, the subpixel position accuracy of centroiding algorithm is analyzed. The focus is on the estimation of the attainable accuracy in the application of EMCCD detector, and analysis of the EMCCD noise influence on the star subpixel position accuracy to find the methods of improving it. The analysis shows that the main contributors to the errors of subpixel position come from dark noise, read noise and photon shot noise. Simulation experiment results show that the subpixel position accuracy can attain 1/45 pixel, which

Citation Download Citation

Yufeng Li, Dongmei Li, and Yanbo Liang "Subpixel centroiding algorithm for EMCCD star tracker", Proc. SPIE 7157, 2008 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Advanced Sensor Technologies and Applications, 715715 (2 February 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.807100

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