The Interferometric Sensing Section of NRL'S Remote Sensing Division is the lead partner in the development of stellar imaging with the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer (NPOI). The NPOI is one of the world's premier long baseline optical interferometers, conducting astronomical research at visual wavelengths in imaging circumstellar material and stellar surfaces, observing binary stars to determine fundamental stellar parameters such as mass and luminosity, and measuring stellar diameters and limb darkening. The NPOI has also initiated a testbed program for interferometric imaging of satellites, particularly those in geostationary orbit. The NPOI consists of four siderostats in fixed locations, plus six movable siderostats, with up to six at a time in use. Baselines (separations between siderostats) range from 9 m to 98 m, providing angular resolutions as small as 1.2 milliarcsec (mas), with baselines up to 430 m (0.2 mas resolution) expected in 2018. Upgrades now in progress include the addition of three 1-m telescopes with adaptive optics (expected completion in 2018) and an infrared detector (2019).

NRL and the Interferometric Sensing Section provide significant research opportunities with the NPOI, both in astronomical research, as with the topics listed above, and instrumentation, including work on advances in beam combination techniques and in the application of adaptive optics to interferometry. Modern workstations are available for data processing, as well as access to DOD supercomputing facilities. The Remote Sensing Division also conducts astronomical research at radio wavelengths with an emphasis on extragalactic research using the VLA and on developing the VLA's low-frequency capability, and at infrared wavelengths with an emphasis on star formation regions, YSOs, and infrared-bright galaxies.