Precursor Photometric Study of Astras Satellite Cluster 19.2${}^{\circ }$ E for Geostationary Debris Profiling

Abstract

Aperture photometry was performed on images (from the SuperWASP instrument) of the 19.2${}^{\circ }$E geostationary Astras satellite constellation over 5 nights to form light curves and predict model and movement parameters of the satellites. The 1KR satellite is observed to have two peaks, 90${}^{\circ }$ out of phase indicating rotating wings, while satellite 1M is predicted to have shadowing due to dips in its light curve or a single wing design due to a single major peak. All satellites have peak magnitudes at the minimum sun phase angle 28${}^{\circ }$ as expected. The developed methods and results serve a precursor to developing methods to address the ultimate goal of geostationary debris profiling.