Increasing the Output of Spacewatch Astrometry of Near-Earth Asteroids
Abstract
The Spacewatch Project at the University of Arizona specializes in followup astrometry of Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) when they are fainter than most other followup stations can reach. Priority is given to objects on the Confirmation Page of the Minor Planet Center (MPC), potential impactors on the Earth, objects requested by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), future targets of radar, objects whose infrared flux or taxonomic properties have been measured, potential destinations of spacecraft, and objects being monitored for Yarkovsky drift. Upgrades in hardware, software, and observing procedures since 2015 Sept have boosted the numbers of observations of NEAs we make with the 0.9-m, 1.8-m, and 2.3-m telescopes on Kitt Peak in Arizona. Targeting specific NEAs with our 0.9-m telescope (site code 691) down to V magnitude 22 has increased the rate of observations of NEAs by a factor of 3.9 compared to the previous survey pattern. Comparing the first three months of 2016 with the same period in 2015 our 1.8-m telescope (site code 291) shows a 25% increase in total images acquired, a 35% increase in shutter-open exposure time, a 68% increase in the number of PHAs observed down to R magnitude 22.5, and a 105% increase in the number of PHAs observed with magnitudes >= 21.5. Installation of our new CCD camera at the Cassegrain focus of the Bok 2.3-meter telescope of Steward Observatory (site code ^695) and better software have allowed 50% more targeted objects per night down to R magnitude 23 and a 303% increase in the number of images taken per night. In the time interval reported, Spacewatch observed 41% of all the NEAs that were observed by anyone and 44% of all the PHAs that were observed by anyone. We also contributed 19% of all the astrometry of PHAs that were fainter than magnitude 22. Support of Spacewatch is from NASA/NEOO grants, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Brinson Foundation of Chicago, IL, the estates of R. S. Vail and R. L. Waland, and other private donors. We are also indebted to the MPC and JPL for their web services.
- Publication:
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AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #48
- Pub Date:
- October 2016
- Bibcode:
- 2016DPS....4832712M