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Developer Notes

This page is intended for consumers of the ODS API. If you want to host the API, check the Developer Notes page.

Path(s):

Example:

{
  "ods_data": [
    {
      "corr_integ_time_sec": 3,
      "freq_lower_hz": 26000000000,
      "freq_upper_hz": 40000000000,
      "notes": "inAdv:True",
      "site_el_m": 2124,
      "site_id": "vla_D",
      "site_lat_deg": 34.07874917,
      "site_lon_deg": -107.6177275,
      "slew_sec": 130.8,
      "src_dec_j2000_deg": 3.15681115,
      "src_end_utc": "2023-08-16T15:26:16.000723",
      "src_id": "J1056+7011",
      "src_is_pulsar_bool": false,
      "src_ra_j2000_deg": 126.459743145833,
      "src_radius": 0,
      "src_start_utc": "2023-08-16T15:23:47.000541",
      "trk_rate_dec_deg_per_sec": 0,
      "trk_rate_ra_deg_per_sec": 0
    },
    {
      "corr_integ_time_sec": 3,
      "freq_lower_hz": 1000000000,
      "freq_upper_hz": 2000000000,
      "notes": "inAdv:True",
      "site_el_m": 2124,
      "site_id": "vla_D",
      "site_lat_deg": 34.07874917,
      "site_lon_deg": -107.6177275,
      "slew_sec": 11,
      "src_dec_j2000_deg": 3.7536111111111112,
      "src_end_utc": "2023-08-16T15:36:16.000723",
      "src_id": "dm0820+03pair",
      "src_is_pulsar_bool": false,
      "src_ra_j2000_deg": 125.24166666666666,
      "src_radius": 0,
      "src_start_utc": "2023-08-16T15:26:16.000841",
      "trk_rate_dec_deg_per_sec": 0,
      "trk_rate_ra_deg_per_sec": 0
    }
  ]
}

Target position and celestial movement:

ODS data employs Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec) coordinates (src_ra_j2000_deg, src_dec_j2000_deg) to specify the target's position. For sidereal targets, this position remains constant throughout the observation interval. All targets are considered sidereal, except for Solar System bodies and special cases.

For non-sidereal targets, the provided coordinates represent the initial position. Subsequent movement within the interval is modeled as linear, with rates of change in RA and Dec specified by the coefficients trk_rate_ra_deg_per_sec and trk_rate_dec_deg_per_sec, respectively.

In case of non-sidereal targets with erractic movement, multiple simultaneous positions can be reported to cover the observed area.

Current NRAO/GBO facility adoption status:

This table is a quick summary of the current NRAO/GBO facilities that have started uploading their observation status to the ODS API, and which satellite operators have started utilizing the ODS data for the Telescope Boresight Avoidance (TBA) technique.

Relevant Publications:

The ODS system and TBA technique are described in the following articles and documentation.

Peer-reviewed Journals:

• Nhan, B. D.; De Pree, C. G.; Beasley, A.; et al. (2025) - ODS: A self-reporting system for radio telescopes to coexist with adaptive satellite constellations. Under review, arXiv preprint 2502.15068
• Nhan, B. D.; De Pree, C. G.; Iverson, M.; et al. (2024) - Toward Spectrum Coexistence: First Demonstration of the Effectiveness of Boresight Avoidance between the NRAO Green Bank Telescope and Starlink Satellites. ApJL 971 L49

Conference Presentations

• Nhan, B. D.; De Pree, C. G.; et al. (Jan 2025) - Operational Data Sharing (ODS) Framework: A radio telescope self-reporting system for satellite operators to mitigate downlink RFI. AAS 245th, National Harbor, MD. ADS abstract
• Nhan, B. D.; De Pree, C. G.; et al. (Jan 2024) - Operational Data Sharing (ODS) Framework - A Coexistence Strategy for Radio Observatories in the Broadband Era. USNC-URSI-NRSM, Boulder, CO. IEEE Xplore abstract

Coordination Agreements & Announcements

• Over 99.5% of residents in the National Radio Quiet Zone can now receive satellite internet service, NRAO (25 Oct 2024)
• Astronomy based on Earth—and Space—Will Give Astronomers More Powerful Tools, NRAO (16 Oct 2024)
• Protecting Radio Astronomy Through Real-time Coordination, SpaceX (09 Aug 2024)
• NSF statement on NSF and SpaceX Astronomy Coordination Agreement, NSF (10 Jan 2023)
• NSF and SpaceX Finalize Radio Spectrum Coordination Agreement, NRAO (10 Jan 2023)
• Statement on Starlink and ‘Constellations’ of Communication Satellites, NRAO (31 May 2019)

News articles

• Witze, A. (18 Mar 2025) - Swarms of satellites are harming astronomy. Here’s how researchers are fighting back. Nature, News feature

NRAO/GBO RFI memo series

ODS Community:

The ODS system is currently being adopted, developed, and tested independently by the following non-NRAO radio astronomy facilities. Some have already had the Telescope Boresight Avoidance (TBA) engaged by SpaceX:

• Hat Creek Radio Observatory (HCRO-ODS) - TBA active
• CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (CSIRO-ODS) - TBA active
• MIT Haystack Observatory (Haystack-ODS) - under test
• Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO-ODS) - under development

About:

${api.openapi}

Contact: ${api.info.contact.email}

Acknowledgement:

The ODS system was developed by NRAO with support from the National Science Foundation's grants:

• SII NRDZ: Dynamic Protection and Spectrum Monitoring for Radio Observatories (AST-2232159),
• SWIFT-SAT: Observational Data Sharing (AST-2332422)

Copyright © 2009 Associated Universities, Inc.
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Modified on Tuesday, 25-Mar-2025 13:14:50 MDT