The use of astronomical data for satellite tracking

The study explored the usage of astronomical observations for the identification and tracking of artificial satellites. Spacecraft streaks on astronomical images are a growing issue for the astronomical community. The increasing number of satellites in the future will only worsen the situation for ground-based optical and radio observations of cosmic objects. In addition, the spacecraft passages often lead to the discarding of the obtained data. In this analysis, we propose an estimation of the usefulness of dedicated astronomical observation for spacecraft monitoring, identification, and deduction of orbital parameters. We use astronomical data from the Astronomical Observatory Meshtitsa (Bulgaria) and the https://www.tycho-tracker.com/ software for the streak analysis. The results are compared with well-known satellite databases, such as https://celestrak.org/. The findings are discussed in the framework of space weather research.

💡 Research Summary

The paper investigates the feasibility of repurposing satellite streaks that appear in astronomical images as a valuable source of data for satellite identification and orbital parameter estimation. Recognizing that the growing number of artificial satellites increasingly contaminates optical and radio astronomical observations, the authors propose to treat these streaks not as nuisances but as opportunistic measurements. Using the Astronomical Observatory Meshtitsa in Bulgaria, which has been operating remotely since late 2023, the authors examined the entire 2024 image archive (5 930 FITS frames). An automated script identified 593 images containing visible satellite trails, with a strong seasonal dependence (e.g., 170 images in July, 97 in August) reflecting weather and target‑field selection.

The core of the study is the application of the web‑based Tycho‑Tracker software (https://www.tycho-tracker.com/) to extract the start and end points of each trail, after which the tool returns candidate satellite identifiers and a set of orbital elements (speed, cross‑track distance, eccentricity, semi‑major axis, etc.). The authors cross‑validated these results against two public satellite databases: N2YO (https://www.n2yo.com) and CelesTrak (https://celestrak.org).

A focal case study is the strongest geomagnetic storm of 2024 (Dst = ‑188 nT on 12 August). During this event, a streak captured by the observatory was processed by Tycho‑Tracker and identified as HJS‑4A (NORAD ID 58691, International Designator 2023‑212A). Independent verification confirmed the satellite’s launch date (30 December 2023 from Jiuquan, China), low‑Earth orbit parameters (perigee ≈ 1110 km, apogee ≈ 1112 km, inclination ≈ 50°, period ≈ 107 min), and payload status.

Across the full set of 18 images that coincided with strong storms (Dst < ‑100 nT), the identification success rate was about 61 % (11 out of 18). The seven failures were primarily debris objects, for which orbital information is sparse or outdated, highlighting a limitation of the current approach. Analysis of orbital element trends from CelesTrak during the storm periods revealed modest variations in eccentricity, but similar fluctuations also occurred during quiet intervals, preventing a definitive causal link between storm activity and orbital changes.

To contextualize these findings, the authors compared their results with the work of Wu et al. (2025), which reported a pronounced orbital decay of the Fengyun‑3G satellite during a severe storm (Dst = ‑406 nT). In that case, a noticeable dip in semi‑major‑axis altitude was observed, suggesting that extreme space‑weather events can produce measurable orbital perturbations that may be detectable in astronomical streak data.

The paper concludes that a single ground‑based astronomical station offers limited utility for systematic satellite monitoring due to restricted field‑of‑view, weather‑induced data gaps, and the scarcity of strong geomagnetic storms within a solar cycle. Nevertheless, such data can serve as a complementary, independent source for historical event analysis and, potentially, for real‑time monitoring if a coordinated network of observatories is established. The authors advocate for the development of a multi‑site network with synchronized observation schedules, automated streak detection pipelines, and integration with real‑time Two‑Line Element (TLE) updates. This infrastructure would enable quantitative assessment of satellite orbital parameter variations as functions of storm strength, duration, and profile, thereby contributing valuable inputs to space‑weather forecasting and satellite‑stability risk assessments.