A search for objects near the Earth-Moon Lagrangian points
Abstract
A photographic search of the five Earth-Moon Lagrangian positions included the solar-synchronized positions in the stable L4/L5 libration orbits, the potentially stable nonplanar orbits near L1/L2, Earth-Moon L3, and also L2 in the Sun-Earth system. Observations using the 61-cm Burrell Schmidt telescope at the Warner and Swasey Observatory, Kitt Peak Station, spanned 60° along the lunar orbital plane × 5° around Earth-Moon L5, 48° × 5° around L4, 25° × 13° around L3, 15° × 24° around the Moon (L1/L2), and 14° × 14° around Sun-Earth L2. Limiting magnitude for the detection of libration objects near L3, L4, and L5 was 17-19th magnitude, 10-18th magnitude for L1/L2 plates, and 14-16th magnitude for Sun-Earth L2. No natural or artificial objects were found. An automated search of selected priority plates was attempted using the Faint Object Classification and Analysis System (FOCAS) software package.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- March 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(83)90209-9
- Bibcode:
- 1983Icar...53..453V
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Photography;
- Earth Rotation;
- Earth-Moon System;
- Lagrangian Equilibrium Points;
- Librational Motion;
- Lunar Rotation;
- Asteroids;
- Gravitational Fields;
- Solar Rotation;
- PLANETS;
- EARTH;
- MOON;
- EARTH-MOON SYSTEM;
- LAGRANGE POINTS;
- OBSERVATIONS;
- EARTH-SUN SYSTEM;
- MAGNITUDE;
- COMPUTER TECHNIQUES;
- PROCEDURE