Fast Star-Pattern Recognition Using Planar Triangles

A new method for star identification using planar triangles is developed and compared to a standard angle method approach. The angle method creates angles between stars within the field of view of a star tracker and matches them to angles in a catalog to determine which stars they are. The new method creates triangles from the stars within the field of view of a star tracker, determines their area and polar moment, then matches the triangles to a catalog of triangles in a way that is faster and more successful than the angle method. Simulation results are provided that show the performance of the new method as well as its robustness with respect to false stars.