Quantifying & Mitigating Satellite Constellation Interference with SatHub

TL;DR

This paper discusses the organization of a session focused on quantifying and mitigating satellite constellation interference, highlighting tools and techniques for forecasting satellite positions and brightnesses to protect astronomical observations.

Contribution

It presents an overview of current mitigation strategies and tools developed by SatHub to address satellite interference in optical astronomy.

Findings

Discussion of forecasting satellite positions and brightnesses

Development of streak detection and masking techniques

Collaboration efforts at IAU CPS

Abstract

This Birds-of-a-Feather (BOF) session on 6 November 2023 was organized by leaders and members of SatHub at the International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (IAU CPS). SatHub is dedicated to observations, data analysis, software, and related activities. The session opened with a talk on the current state of affairs with regards to satellite constellation mitigation, with a focus on optical astronomy, and moved to focused discussion around the top-voted topics. These included tools and techniques for forecasting satellite positions and brightnesses as well as streak detection and masking.