GEOS Photometric Signature Classifications Based on Observations of FocusGEO Telescopes

Ground-based optical-electrical observation is the main approach to obtain the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) targets’ optical characteristics. Light curve classification was studied based on the photometry observations of FocusGEO telescope at Lijiang Station from December 2017 to June 2019. A new classification system was introduced based on the statistical analysis of GEO satellite light curve features. Moreover, the correlation between light curve classification and satellites’ bus type was analyzed. Results show that photometric signatures of 197 GEO satellites can be classified into six classes and each class can be qualitatively explained by the actual satellite structure. Approximately 90% of these satellites appear to belong to three of six different classes. However, light curve classification has no significant correlation to satellites’ bus types, but for the satellites with the same or similar bus types in each class, the light curves resemble each other. The classification system can aid to identify cluster GEO targets and provide the basis for anomaly detection and physical characteristics research, which is of great significance for space situational awareness.