Advanced Research in Sky Surveillance: A Search for Low-Luminosity Objects
Abstract
The Spacewatch Telescope on Kitt Peak is used for the ongoing program of surveillance for small moving objects in the solar system. At least 20,000 main-belt asteroids are found per year; their positions are e-mailed to others. For the near-Earth objects, the discovery rate now is about 30 per year. These are followed up as much as possible in order to obtain the best possible orbits. Spacewatch participates in the observing campaign for P/Comet-Levy 9. Dr Robert Jedicke joined us as Research Associate. Public interest in the Spacewatch program continues; nearly every observing run a reporter or television crew joins us for an evening. The origin of the 10-m objects, small objects near the Earth called Arjunas, is being studied as is the chaotic behavior of Centaurs in the outer parts of the solar system. The construction of the 1.8-m Spacewatch Telescope proceeds, without impact on the research and observations with the 0. 9-m. The 1.8-m is being built in the Instrument Development Shop of the University of Arizona. Because of limited funding, its design was changed into an alt-az reflector with folded prime focus.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA274214
Entities
People
- Tom Gehrels
Organizations
- University of Arizona