Space debris, also known as orbital debris, refers to man-made objects in orbit around the Earth that no longer serve a useful purpose. This debris poses a significant risk to operational satellites and spacecrafts, as even small fragments can cause significant damage on impact. In this lecture, I will provide an overview of the current state of space debris, including its origins, characteristics, and distribution. I will discuss the various methods used to track and monitor space debris, as well as the efforts being made to mitigate the risks posed by debris to space operations. Additionally, I will present the emerging technologies and strategies being developed to remove space debris from orbit and ensure the sustainability of space activities. This lecture will provide a comprehensive introduction to space debris and its impact on space activities and will be completed with an hands-on session about images processing of space debris.

Recently, the number of space objects is increasing. In the field of space surveillance, space surveillance is a method for securing observational data. Radar, laser, and optical monitoring systems are mainly used for space monitoring of ground-based artificial space objects. Along with mega-construction services, various space surveillance systems are being developed to cope with rapidly increasing space risks. We would like to deal with the recent development of artificial space objects and the recent status of space surveillance systems to respond to increasing space risks.

This lecture first introduces to a review of available observation techniques followed by the basics of observational astronomy relevant to satellite tracking. The lecture then presents optimize observation strategy to find space objects in GEO using survey and tracking mode. Selected photometry results are presented (reduction tasks, object detection, and light curve extraction) along with a discussion of the technical details required for optical observation of GEO satellites.

Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are celestial bodies that orbit within 1.3 (AU) of the Sun and have the potential to cross the Earth's orbit. They include asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, some of which are large enough to cause significant damage if they were to collide with our planet. NEOs have been a subject of intense study and research in recent years due to their potential impact on Earth. Efforts are underway to detect and track NEOs so that we can take measures to mitigate the risk of a collision. This includes developing technologies to deflect or destroy NEOs, as well as developing early warning systems to give us time to prepare for a potential impact.
In this talk, I will provide an overview of NEOs and their potential impact on Earth. We will discuss the characteristics of NEOs, their detection and tracking methods, and the potential consequences of a NEO impact. We will also discuss the efforts being made to mitigate the impact of NEOs and protect our planet from this potential threat.

Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are a constant source of concern due to their potential to collide with our planet, which could cause significant damage to human life and property. As such, it is crucial to continuously monitor the whereabouts of NEAs and investigate their physical characteristics to prepare for potential hazards. Astronomical observations using ground-based facilities have been one of the most powerful methods to investigate the physical properties of NEAs, enabling us to obtain information such as orbit, size, shape, spin state, and surface properties. These properties are then used to create models of NEAs and predict their future behavior, which helps us understand how they may interact with Earth in the future. In this talk, I will introduce an overview of the techniques and tools used in astronomical observations using ground-based facilities have been used to study the physical properties of NEAs.

Tycho Tracker software is a tool for tracking celestial objects that uses advanced image processing techniques to track the movements of these objects in the sky. The software is designed to track objects such as asteroids, NEOs, comets, and artificial satellites, and can be used by both professional and amateur astronomers.
Tycho uses motion detection algorithms to identify celestial objects and track their trajectories. The software is capable of detecting moving objects from a sequence of images, and measuring their position with high accuracy. It also uses image processing techniques to correct errors caused by lens distortion, chromatic aberration, and atmospheric conditions.
In this talk, I will show Tycho's features and how to use the interface that allows us to easily configure the tracking parameters for celestial objects. Users can set parameters such as the search area, tracking speed, and motion detection settings. I will show also how we can use Tycho to perform photometric measurements of tracked objects, such as apparent magnitude, brightness, and rotation curves.

In this talk, I will provide an overview of the fascinating interplay between space weather and the electrodynamic processes occurring in the thermosphere and ionosphere. Space weather refers to the dynamic conditions in space that are influenced by the Sun's activity and its interaction with Earth's magnetic field. These conditions can have significant impacts on the upper atmosphere, leading to complex and intricate changes in the behavior of the thermosphere and ionosphere. We explore the various physical mechanisms involved, such as the interaction of solar radiation and particles with the upper atmosphere, and the generation of electric currents and plasma irregularities. Through this overview, I aim to deepen our understanding of the profound influence that space weather exerts on the electrodynamic phenomena in the thermosphere and ionosphere, and its implications for a wide range of applications, including satellite communications, navigation systems, and space exploration. In addition, I will present the main results of the thermospheric neutral winds and the neutral temperature obtained at the oukaimeden observatory over the last 8 years.

After the magnetic storm on 13 March 1989 which caused a power outage lasting more than 6 hours in Canada, the question of the vulnerability of our new technologies to strong solar disturbances
arose. It has become necessary to understand the impact of solar events on the earth's environment, i.e. to make a direct connection between a given solar event and its effects on the earth. This is how a new holistic approach to the earth-sun system came to be defined: Space Weather. Electromagnetic connections between the sun and the earth are made through electromagnetic emissions and particles emitted from the sun: (i) Regular electromagnetic emissions that create the ionosphere. (ii) Disturbed electromagnetic emissions responsible for solar flares and solar bursts. (iii) Regular solar wind. (iv) Fast solar wind and coronal mass ejections responsible of geomagnetic activity and geomagnetic storms. We present the impacts of these solar events on our new technologies satellite communication, GNSS) and infrastructure.

Meteors, also known as shooting stars, are natural phenomena that occur when small rocky or metallic objects from space, called meteoroids, enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up due to friction. Studying meteors can provide valuable information about the composition and origin of our solar system, and detecting them can help scientists track potentially hazardous objects that could pose a threat to our planet. There are several methods used to detect meteors. One common technique is to use a network of cameras that are pointed at the sky and record video of the night sky. These cameras are equipped with sensitive sensors that can detect the faint flashes of light that occur when a meteor enters the atmosphere. By analyzing the footage from multiple cameras, scientists can determine the trajectory, speed, and size of the meteor. Overall, detecting and studying meteors is an important area of research that can help us better understand the nature and history of our solar system, and develop strategies to mitigate the potential risks posed by asteroids and other celestial objects.

As our interconnected societies become increasingly dependent on advancing technologies, understanding how and under what conditions these technologies can be adversely affected by space weather has gained importance. Over the past several years, examples of how space weather events have impacted both space- and ground-based assets have grown. In this talk, we provide several motivating examples of space weather impacting satellites, satellite-based communication and navigation systems, and the power grid. We then discuss some of the underlying physical principles pertinent to understanding the effects of space weather on these systems and conclude with a brief discussion of outstanding questions and opportunities for future research that will lead to creating systems that are robust or resilient to space weather effects.

The task at hand requires students to work in pairs and present a small project related to the topic of their school. This activity aims to encourage collaboration and engagement among students, as well as help them develop their research and presentation skills. By working together, students can share their ideas and knowledge, leading to a richer and more comprehensive project. Through this exercise, students will also have the opportunity to showcase their creativity and critical thinking abilities, which are essential skills for academic success and future careers. Overall, this session allows students to gain practical experience in working in teams and presenting information, while also deepening their understanding of the school's topic.