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J Pitesky, M Milman, R Swartz (JPL)
The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) uses a set of astrometrically stable "grid" stars to form a reference grid from which we may determine the instrument baseline during science observations. The baseline solutions may then be used, along with measurements of the science targets, to determine absolute positions for these science targets. The accuracy that can be reached after many such observations depends on a variety of instrument and target parameters. Ideally, we will use an observing scenario which minimizes the time needed to reach the desired accuracy.
This paper presents an analytic representation of SIM's expected global wide angle performance. Given a target of known magnitude and desired end-of-mission accuracy, we determine the corresponding number of 1-d observations and single integration times that will minimize the total mission time needed for the target. We discuss how these results will be affected by changes in instrument parameters.
This work was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.