Andrew Rakich

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Andrew Rakich is a distinguished optical designer and astronomer whose career has been defined by pushing the boundaries of precision instrumentation for astrometric surveys. His key research areas include the design of wide-field, high-accuracy telescopes and the development of specialized optical systems for astrometric and space situational awareness applications. Rakich’s most notable contribution is his foundational work on the U.S. Naval Observatory Robotic Astrometric Telescope (URAT), where he established the astrometric requirements and design history for this ambitious 0.85-meter aperture instrument. This project, which demands a 5 milliarcsecond accuracy over a 4.5-degree field of view, represents a significant leap in ground-based all-sky survey capability. While his most cited paper on URAT has garnered 6 citations, the true impact of his work lies in its technical influence on subsequent astrometric instrumentation and survey strategies. Rakich’s expertise in balancing optical performance with practical engineering constraints has made him a key figure in advancing the precision needed for stellar position measurements and deep-space object tracking.