Optimal uniform guide star catalog using a genetic algorithm

Abstract

To achieve optimal and reliable star sensors and overcome some onboard hardware and software limitations, this study aimed to make an optimal uniform guide star catalog. For this purpose, the objective function was defined by the field of view (FOV) and magnitude threshold, and then design variables were optimized. The optimal uniform guide star catalog was obtained by a genetic algorithm alongside the Latinized stratified sampling method and by a novel, to the best of our knowledge, spherical density determination algorithm based on the minimum number of stars required for a star identification algorithm. Finally, Monte Carlo simulation was used to validate the results, which indicate a dramatic improvement, including a reduction in the number of stars in the uniform catalog and an increase in the probability of observing the minimum required stars for the star identification algorithm (at least 5 stars) in 98.34% of all possible optimal FOVs (about 12°).