Systems and methods for collecting data from an observed field

Abstract

This invention employs a ground-based system of statically mounted cameras that can be used to track satellites or other objects in orbit. An embodiment of the system comprises a first camera 120 configured to observe a first area of the observed field, a second camera configured to observe a second area of the observed field, wherein the field of view of the first camera is wider than the field of view of the second camera 200, and the system further comprises at least one processor configured to: receive first data from the first camera, second data from the second camera, collate the first data into a first data set, and collate the second data into a second data set. Optionally, there is a third statically mounted camera 310 with a field of view wider than the second field of view with a third observed area such that a portion of the second area is between a portion of the first and third areas. Initial orbit determination calculations may be used to process the third data set to determine an orbit of an object in the observed field.

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