a

Exploration and Study of Asteroid Populations

Based at the University of Arizonas Lunar and Planetary Laboratory Basic Facts:
The primary goal of Spacewatch is to explore the various populations of small objects in the Solar System. Operate two telescopes at the Kitt Peak Observatory They investigate the dynamic evolution of the Solar System. Use CCDs to scan the the Centaur, Trojan, Main-Belt, Trans-Neptunian, and Earthapproaching asteroid populations. Find potential targets for interplanetary spacecraft missions

The Spacewatch 1.8m Telescope Find Objects that may pose a hazard to Earth It was the first time a CCD was used to detect and discover asteroids. The Spacewatch team now specialise in follow up observations in order to accurately calculate orbits. The Spacewatch 0.9m Telescope (left telescope). Location: Kitt Peak

The Telescopes
0.9m
Observatory information: Latitude 31 57' 43" N Longitude 111 35' 58" W Elevation 2091 m Optics Prime Focus F3 Primary Mirror Diameter 0.964m CCD - 4 x (4608x2048) thinned and backside illuminated FOV 2.9 square degrees Limiting Magnitude V=21.7

The 0.9 meter telescope now uses the stare method to detect comets and asteroids. This is where the telescope tracks the sky motion and captures a series of images covering a portion of the sky. The telescope then runs through this series again two more times with an interval of 30 minutes. Any moving objects would have changed position in relation to the background stars and therefore be visible.

The image shows three exposures with the 0.9m showing a main belt asteroid, (images taken 30m apart). (Object Name - (31531) ARRL, Observer - Prof Jeffrey A. Larsen,Year 1999)

1.8m
Observatory information: Latitude 31 57' 42.2" N Longitude 111 35' 56.8" W Elevation 2075 m Optics Prime Focus F2.7 Primary Mirror Diameter 1.818m CCD - (2048x2048) thinned and backside illuminated FOV 34 arcmin x 34 arcmin Limiting Magnitude V=21.7

The 1.8m telescope uses the "drift-scan" method to detect asteroids and comets. The telescope locks the right ascension axis in place and allows the star fields to drift through its field of view ("driftscan") while the CCD detector constantly reads out. Any moving objects that move inconsistently with the motion of the sky are picked up automatically via software.

The Team

Senior Research Specialist and Spacewatch Webmaster: Jim Scotti (above)

Miwa Block
Title: Former Applications Systems Analyst; Former Spacewatch Webmaster

Associate Research Scientist: Robert S. McMillan, PhD (above)

Terry Bressi

Title: Staff Engineer

Kim C. Cochran

Professor: Tom Gehrels (above)

Joe Montani

Title: Former Technician

Anne Descour

Title: Former Senior Systems Programmer

Robert Jedicke, PhD

Title: Former Senior Research Specialist; Former Spacewatch Webmaster

Title: Research Astronomer, Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii.

Marcus Perry

Jeffrey Larsen, PhD

Title: Former Spacewatch Chief Engineer

Title: Professor at US Naval Academy

Mike Read Andrew Tubbiolo

Title: Former Electronic Technician

Title: Former Electronic Technician Senior; Former Spacewatch Webmaster

The Timeline
1923 0.9m Telescope installed at University of Arizona Campus 1963 - 0.9m Telescope Moved to Kitt Peak 1983 0.9m Telescope donated to Spacewatch team 1984 The 0.9m Telescope became the first to detect and discover asteroids and comets with a CCD, (as oppose to photographic plates). 1992 New CCD installed which doubled QE to 70%, Increased FOV to 38 arc minutes and increased limiting magnitude to 21. 2000 Large minor planet (20000) Varuna discovered in outer Solar System 2001- New 1.8m Telescope installed at Kitt Peak 2002 Large Mosaic CCD camera installed on the 0.9m which increased the FOV to 2.9 square degrees 2005-2008 Emphasis gradually shifts towards follow up observations for accurate orbit calculations. 2008+ - Follow up observations and studies of the Centaur and Trans Neptunian minor planets and sizes of short period comet nuclei.

120

NEO Discoveries
New CCD 1.8m Installed Emphasis shifts from discoveries to follow up observations
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

Number of Discoveries

100 80 60 40 20 0 1988

Year
by Antoni Kasprzyk