Deep space satellite observations using the near-Earth asteroid tracking (NEAT) camera at AMOS

The AMOS 1.2-m telescope is being used 18 nights per month to search for Near-Earth Asteroids (NEA). Since telescope time is a very valuable resource, our goal is to use the telescope as efficiently as possible. This includes striving to maximize the utility of each observation. Since the NEAT searches are within the ecliptic, the same part of the sky as geosynchronous satellites, these search fields contain satellite tracks as well as asteroids. We present the results of simulations of the number of satellites that should be found within the field of view based upon the field centers and times for several nights. We have also examined the NEAT images for geosynchronous objects and present these results. During the remaining nights each month, we use the NEAT camera to obtain observations of deep-space satellites. This data will also be presented. We also present the results of simulations for optimizing search strategies for deep-space objects using NEAT and other AMOS sensors.