Detection of earth-approaching asteroids in near real time
Abstract
Computer software, called the Moving Object Detection Program (MODP), is described which detects earth-approaching asteroids in near real time. The software runs on a workstation linked to the output of the drift-scanning CCD camera of the Spacewatch Telescope. MOPD recognizes trailed images, detects motion, and accurately determines angular positions and rates of motion for moving objects in the scan images. The results are obtained a few seconds after the image signals are shifted out of the CCD. During 2 months of trial observations with this system, 304 asteroids were detected down to a limiting apparent magnitude for untrailed images of V = 20.5.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1991
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1991AJ....101.1518R
- Keywords:
-
- Asteroids;
- Computer Programs;
- Earth (Planet);
- Astronomical Observatories;
- Charge Coupled Devices;
- Detection;
- Error Analysis;
- Orbital Mechanics;
- Scanning;
- ASTEROIDS;
- EARTH-CROSSERS;
- NEAS;
- ASTRONOMY;
- COMPUTER METHODS;
- ORBITS;
- EARTH-BASED OBSERVATIONS;
- TECHNIQUES;
- MAGNITUDE;
- MOTION;
- CCD METHODS;
- EQUIPMENT;
- PROCEDURE;
- Astronomy; Asteroids