Programme by Session

We discuss Project Argus: a Citizen Science type collaborative research activity undertaken by Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – An Agency of the Ministry of Defence) and members of the Basingstoke Astronomical Society (BAS).

The activity encouraged accomplished amateur astronomer to image low Earth orbit satellites using commercial-off-the-shelf amateur astronomy level equipment. The BAS team thereby acted as a surrogate for a potential future distributed system aimed at updating satellite orbit determinations and thereby reducing the risk of on-orbit collision events.

The project aims, techniques employed and overall results will be discussed, but most importantly the difficulties encountered and lessons learned in creating and executing such an activity will be highlighted as many are likely to be encountered with other collaborative endeavours.

The presentation will discuss the execution of the project from the perspective of both the data provider and the recipient. In addition, it will make recommendations to support the successful execution of such activities more generally.