Geoposition determination by starlight refraction measurement

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for determining geoposition of an observer. The system includes a sensor such as a wide field of view camera or telescope that can capture an image of the sky. The image of the sky is used to compile a table or list of the stars in the sky along with their positions. This table or list is pattern-matched with a predetermined list or table of stars to identify each star. In one embodiment, the distances between all stars in the image are computed and compared to star images from an atmospheric refraction model. A comparison of the measured table or list and the refraction model, using an optimization algorithm, is performed to determine the geoposition of the observer. In an alternative embodiment, a sensor capable of measuring two different frequency bands obtains two images of each star in the sky simultaneously. A difference in displacement is determined between the two frequencies for each imaged star; and a magnitude and direction of the difference in displacement is used to determine the geoposition of a body.

主权项

1. A method for determining geoposition, comprising:
obtaining an image or images of the sky; compiling a list or table of a plurality of stars and their positions in the sky from said image or images; pattern-matching the list or table of said plurality of stars with a predetermined list or table of stars to identify each of said plurality of stars; obtaining first and second light frequencies emitted from each of said plurality of stars in the sky; determining, using a processor, a difference in displacement between the two frequencies for each of said plurality of stars; and correlating a magnitude and direction of said difference in displacement between the two frequencies to determine the geoposition of a body for which a predicted star refraction pattern best-fits measurements relating to the magnitude and direction of said difference in displacement for each of said plurality of stars.