1990/05/01 by H. H. Aumann, Hartmut H. Aumann, John W. Fowler +2 · 165 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Artificial intelligence #Astronomy #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics #CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors #Correlation #Geometry #Image (mathematics) #Physics #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
paper · doi:10.1086/115448
published in The Astronomical Journal 99, 1674 (Institute of Physics)
openalex publication_date 1990/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
An algorithm is presented for the construction of images using linear array data with nonuniform scan coverage of object space and nonuniform detector responses. The algorithm achieves the maximum correlation between adjacent pixels, i.e., the smoothest image, consistent with the data and data uncertainties. For high spatial data density and signal-to-noise ratio, the achievable spatial resolution can exceed the diffraction limit of the optics. The capability of the algorithm is illustrated using 60-micron data from the region centered on the galaxy M101, obtained during the all-sky survey performed by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. The 60-micron map produced has a resolution of about 36 arcsec and allows the identification of many H II regions by position and aperture photometry for the brighter ones. The achieved resolution is discussed in terms of the a priori estimate of the mean correlation length of the data, the directly measured FWHM in the final image, and the results of aperture photometry of M101 H II regions NGC 5447, 5455, 5461, 5462 and 5471.