Pointing Calibration of GroundBIRD Telescope Using Moon Observation Data

Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, vol. 2024

Abstract

Abstract Understanding telescope pointing (i.e. line of sight) is important for observing the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and astronomical objects. The Moon is a candidate astronomical source for pointing calibration. Although the visible size of the Moon (30′) is larger than that of the planets, we can frequently observe the Moon once a month with a high signal-to-noise ratio. We developed a method for performing pointing calibration using observational data from the Moon. We considered the tilts of the telescope axes as well as the encoder and collimation offsets for pointing calibration. In addition, we evaluated the effects of the nonuniformity of the brightness temperature of the Moon, which is a dominant systematic error. As a result, we successfully achieved a pointing accuracy of 3.3′. This is one order of magnitude smaller than an angular resolution of 36′. This level of accuracy competes with past achievements in other ground-based CMB experiments using observational data from the planets.

Authors 18

1. Yoshinori Sueno

   Kyoto University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University , Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 , Japan

2. J. J. A. Baselmans Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Microelectronics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), Delft University of Technology , Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft , The Netherlands

   SRON – Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4, 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands

3. R. Génova-Santos

   Universidad de La Laguna · Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

   Affiliation as printed

   Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna , E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife , Spain

   Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias , E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife , Spain

4. M. Hattori

   Tohoku University

   Affiliation as printed

   Astronomical Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University , 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578 , Japan

5. S. Honda

   University of Tsukuba

   Affiliation as printed

   Division of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan

   Tomonaga Center for the History of the Universe (TCHoU), University of Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan

6. K. Karatsu Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON – Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4, 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands

7. Hiroki Kutsuma

   Tohoku University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University , 6-6-05, Aramakiaoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi 980-8579 , Japan

8. Kyungmin Lee

   Korea University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physics, Korea University , 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea

9. Taketo Nagasaki

   High Energy Accelerator Research Organization

   Affiliation as printed

   The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) , 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0801 , Japan

10. S. Oguri

    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency · Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) , Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-5210 , Japan

11. Chiko Otani

    RIKEN

    Affiliation as printed

    Terahertz Sensing and Imaging Research Team , RIKEN, 519-1399 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0845, Miyagi , Japan

12. Michael W. Peel

    Universidad de La Laguna · Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias · Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna , E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife , Spain

    Department of Physics, Imperial College London , Blackett Lab, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ , UK

    Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias , E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife , Spain

13. Junya Suzuki

    Kyoto University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University , Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 , Japan

14. O. Tajima

    Kyoto University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University , Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 , Japan

15. T. Tanaka

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Astronomical Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University , 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578 , Japan

16. Miku Tsujii

    Tohoku University

    Affiliation as printed

    Astronomical Institute, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University , 6-3, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578 , Japan

17. David J. Thoen Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

    Space Research Organisation Netherlands

    Affiliation as printed

    SRON – Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4, 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands

18. Eunil Won

    Korea University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Korea University , 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841 , Republic of Korea