Advanced Research in Sky Surveillance: A Search for Low-Luminosity Objects.
Abstract
Regarding astrophysical research, an increasing number of moving objects in the solar system is formed per year, positions are distributed electronically to others. Our own usage of the discoveries is to study magnitude-frequency relations for a variety of populations in the solar system, such as comets, Centaurs, main-belt asteroids, and objects that can come into the Earth's vicinity. For the near-Earth objects, the discovery rate now is about 25 percent per year, and expected to increase. These are fo1lowed up as much as possible in order to obtain the best possible orbits. The origin of 10-in objects, we call Arjunas is being studied, as is the chaotic behavior of large Centaurs in the outer parts of the solar system. Regarding the new techniques in sky surveillance, there still is lively progress and improvement for the old 0.9-m Spacewatch Telescope with the development of new scanning techniques computer programs and optical devices The construction of the 1.8-m Spacewatch Telescope is well under way. It is a device of great research interest, even for future generations of planetary scientists. It is of importance as a prototype for future instruments in sky surveillance. It has a compact and stiff design. (MM)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA291184
Entities
People
- Tom Gehrels
Organizations
- University of Arizona