Satellite-Mounted Light Sources as Photometric Calibration Standards

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of satellite-mounted light sources, specifically a pulsed laser on CALIPSO, to improve photometric calibration in astronomy by precisely measuring atmospheric extinction and reducing systematic errors.

Contribution

It demonstrates a method of using satellite-mounted lasers and ground-based sensors to enhance calibration accuracy in astrophysics.

Findings

Successful measurement of atmospheric extinction at 532 nm

Potential for significant reduction in calibration uncertainties

Feasibility of satellite-based calibration standards

Abstract

A significant and growing portion of systematic error on a number of fundamental parameters in astrophysics and cosmology is due to uncertainties from absolute photometric and flux standards. A path toward achieving major reduction in such uncertainties may be provided by satellite-mounted light sources, resulting in improvement in the ability to precisely characterize atmospheric extinction, and thus helping to usher in the coming generation of precision results in astronomy. Toward this end, we have performed a campaign of observations of the 532 nm pulsed laser aboard the CALIPSO satellite, using a portable network of cameras and photodiodes, to precisely measure atmospheric extinction.