PASO -- Astronomy and Space Situational Awareness in a Dark Sky Destination

Domingos Barbosa; Bruno Coelho; Miguel Bergano; Constança Alves; Alexandre C. M. Correia; Luís Cupido; José Freitas; Luís Gonçalves; Bruce Grossan; Anna Guerman; Allan K. de Almeida Jr.; Dalmiro Maia; Bruno Morgado; João Pandeirada; Valério Ribeiro; Gonçalo Rosa; George Smoot; Timothée Vaillant; Thyrso Villela; Carlos Alexandre Wuensche

arXiv · 2404.04090

PASO -- Astronomy and Space Situational Awareness in a Dark Sky Destination

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Abstract

The Pampilhosa da Serra Space Observatory (PASO) is located in the center of the continental Portuguese territory, in the heart of a certified Dark Sky destination by the Starlight Foundation (Aldeias do Xisto) and has been an instrumental asset to advance science, education and astrotourism certifications. PASO hosts astronomy and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) activities including a node of the Portuguese Space Surveillance \& Tracking (SST) infrastructure network, such as a space radar currently in test phase using GEM radiotelescope, a double Wide Field of View Telescope system, a EUSST optical sensor telescope. These instruments allow surveillance of satellite and space debris in LEO, MEO and GEO orbits. The WFOV telescope offers spectroscopy capabilities enabling light curve analysis and cosmic sources monitoring. Instruments for Space Weather are being considered for installation to monitor solar activities and expand the range of SSA services.

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Domingos Barbosa, Bruno Coelho, Miguel Bergano, Constança Alves, Alexandre C. M. Correia, Luís Cupido, José Freitas, Luís Gonçalves, Bruce Grossan, Anna Guerman, Allan K. de Almeida Jr., Dalmiro Maia, Bruno Morgado, João Pandeirada, Valério Ribeiro, Gonçalo Rosa, George Smoot, Timothée Vaillant, Thyrso Villela, Carlos Alexandre Wuensche. 2024-04-05. PASO -- Astronomy and Space Situational Awareness in a Dark Sky Destination. https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.04090

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