A CCD search for geosynchronous debris

Abstract

A search for objects in geosynchronous Earth orbit was conducted using the Spacewatch Camera system. The telescope drive was off so that during integrations the stars were trailed while geostationary objects appeared as round images. The technique should detect geostationary objects to a limiting apparent visual magnitude of 19. A total sky area of 8.8 deg 2 was searched for geostationary objects; the total sky area monitored for geosynchronous debris passing through the field of view was 16.4 deg 2. Ten objects were found, three of which were observed on separate nights. Seven of these objects are probably geostationary satellites having apparent visual magnitudes brighter than 13.1. Three objects having magnitudes equal to or fainter than 13.7 showed motion in the north-south direction. The absence of fainter stationary objects suggests that a gap in debris size exists between satellites and particles having diameters in the millimeter range known to exist in geosynchronous orbit.