Download Poster - University of North Dakota

Abstract:
Minor Planet Search Using TOAST
Simulation:
Joel G. Downs and Timothy R. Young
This research project used TOAST (Transient Object Automated Search
Telescope) to perform a search for new minor planets and take
observations of known minor planets (more commonly known as
asteroids). A set search pattern was used during the month of July and
observations submitted to the Minor Planet Center. In addition to the
actual search a simulation program was written which predicts how
many new asteroids might possibly be discovered.
In addition to the actual search, a program was written using the
FORTRAN programming language. This program utilized statistics
provided by the Minor Planet Center webpage to simulate the
outcome of a search such as ours. The program uses parameters such as
the limit of how faint an object TOAST can detect to make the
simulation as accurate as possible. This program computes
approximately how many minor planets could possibly be found in a
certain number of days. Results of several computations are shown in
figure 2.
Physics Department -University of North Dakota
Motivation:
The motivation for finding new asteroids is to increase the database
of known asteroids and therefore increase the knowledge about the
structure of our solar system. In addition, observations of known
asteroids are used to update orbital data. Asteroids play an important
role in understanding the creation of our solar system, they are
thought to be remnants of planetary creation (Binzel, 1989).
The more data that we are able to gather, the better the theoretical
models of solar creation will be. In addition to this, there are many
potentially hazardous asteroids which come quite close to the Earth’s
orbit. By scanning the sky in search of asteroids we can find these
asteroids and possibly prevent a cataclysmic event.
Results:
Figure 1: TOAST
Figure 2: Results of Search Simulation
Number of Days Searched
TOAST (fig. 1):
The Transient Object Automated Search Telescope is a 10” Meade
LX200 telescope mounted inside a robotic dome and controlled by a
computer. The images in the search were taken by an SBIG ST-7e CCD
camera attached to the telescope. Software packages used in conjunction
with the telescope were CCDsoft, The Sky, and Digital Domeworks
(Young).
Search Method:
Each night in July that was clear enough to observe, TOAST was used
to search in a straight pattern through the asteroid belt. Images were taken
along a line for a half hour and then the pattern was repeated, giving two
images of each area in an hour. The images were then compared to see if any
objects were moving across the star field in that area. This comparison involves
aligning the two images and then “blinking” them. The blinking process is
a lot like a rapid slide show, flashing one image right after the other. Figure 3
shows three images of the minor planet Euterpe taken in an hour and then shows
these three Images combined. Euterpe is circled in green and a reference star is
circled in yellow.
References:
Binzel, Richard P., T. Gehrels, and M. Shapley Matthews. 1989. Asteroids II.
This research is supported by
The University of Arizona Press, Tuscon, AZ.
1. NASA ND EPSCoR #NCC5-582
2. AAS small grants program
“MPC Submission Information”, Minor Planet Center,
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/info/TechInfo.html,
3. NSF EPSCoR #EPS-9874802
July 15, 2003
4. ND EPSCoR AURA program
Young, Timothy R. TOAST Presentation Poster. 2003.
100
500
1000
5000
10000
15000
20000
Number of Asteroids discovered
0
0
0
1
6
10
15
The search pattern was able to take about 50 to 60 images
a night, resulting in 25 to 30 areas of the sky searched per
night and 320 total areas in 13 nights of observing. The search
did not discover any new asteroids. These results were not
unexpected after running the simulation program. As you can
see in figure 2, a much longer search period would be needed
to discover a minor planet within the limitations of TOAST.
Observations of several known asteroids were taken and these
were submitted to the Minor Planet Center at the Harvard-Smithsonian
Observatory. The asteroids reported were number 690 Wratislavia
and number 1457 Ankara. The observations were acknowledged by
Harvard and were accepted as good observations.
Future Work:
In the future the search can be
conducted over a longer period of
time. This would greatly increase
chances of finding an asteroid. In
addition, using a telescope with
fewer limitations would also increase
the likelihood of finding an asteroid.
One improvement would be to use a
larger telescope. This would allow
us to see fainter objects.
Gamma Ray Burst Detection
Another program along with the asteroid
search and follow-up observations will be
a new pilot program to detect the optical
afterglow of gamma ray bursts. This is a
new area for small robotic telescopes that
will aid in the understanding of how
gamma ray bursts are produced and the
objects that produce them. Currently it is
thought that hypernovae are responsible.