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Current Status of the Astrometric Capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

W.H. Jefferys ,
G.F. Benedict ,
R.L. Duncombe ,
O.G. Franz ,
L.W. Fredrick ,
T. Gerard ,
P.D. Hemenway ,
B. McArthur ,
J. McCartney  and
E. Nelan
...Show all authors
W.H. Jefferys
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
G.F. Benedict
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
R.L. Duncombe
Affiliation:
Center for Space Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX
O.G. Franz
Affiliation:
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ
L.W. Fredrick
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
T. Gerard
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT
P.D. Hemenway
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
B. McArthur
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
J. McCartney
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
E. Nelan
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
P.J. Shelus
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
D. Story
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
W. van Altena
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT
L. Wasserman
Affiliation:
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ
A. Whipple
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy
J. Whitney
Affiliation:
Dept. of Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Abstract

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The Fine Guidance Sensors (FGSs) are the instrument of choice for most astrometric measurements with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The observed amount of spherical aberration in the Ritchey Chretien optical system does not affect positional measurements with perfectly aligned FGSs because they are interferometers. The FGSs combine wavefronts from points in the exit pupil with other points which are at the same radial distance from the optical axis. Asymmetric aberrations such as coma and astigmatism do affect the measured positions. The current knowledge of the HST wavefront error, the FGS operation and the implications for milliarcsecond relative astrometry are discussed. It is still planned to use the HST to tie the HIPPARCOS and VLBI Reference Frames together at the few milliarcsecond level.

Type
Part 1. Oral Papers
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 127: Reference Systems , 1991 , pp. 68 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © United States Naval Observatory 1991

References

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