Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997nyasa.822...29m&link_type=abstract
Near-Earth Objects, the United Nations International Conference: Proceedings of the international conference held April 24-26, 1
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Asteroids, Comets, Cometary Collisions, Asteroid Collisions, Charge Coupled Devices, Computer Programming, Schmidt Telescopes, Southern Hemisphere, Signal Analyzers, Real Time Operation, Astronomy, Asteroid Detection, Astrometry, Azur Satellite, Cameras, Ccd Cameras, Computer Programs, Dynamic Response, Signal Processing
Scientific paper
EUNEASO is a European program aimed at discovering and observing near-Earth objects. It was started in 1992, and is an informal partnership to promote and coordinate research on NEO in Europe (see poster by Hahn et al. in this volume). Efforts are made to develop and operate a CCD array camera system in order to participate in a large scale NEO search programme. Work is progressing on the following steps: (1) Construction of hardware and software required to automatically detect near-Earth objects using a large CCD camera. Our aim is to install a 9 2K CCD camera at the focus of the Observatoire de Cote d'Azur 90/l50/315 cm Schmidt telescope, and if possible a similar telescope in the southern hemisphere, i.e., the ESO Schmidt. (2) Integration of this hardware in the worldwide asteroid observing network. An European asteroid web server has been installed at DLR. It allows to connect to several databases of interest, but also, on the OCA Schmidt telescope where, if permission is granted, observing requests may be posted. (3) Automated detection software has been written at OCA (detection part) and DLR (reduction part) and tested on images obtained with a single 2K camera in 1994. It allows a complete image detection down to 3 sigmas with 200 kpixels/second speed using a 12 megaflops Unix workstation. It will be ported on a network of Digital Signal Processors during the 1995 summer. This should allow real-time detection using 9 CCD's (76 megabytes per image). (4) The construction of the multi CCD camera has started. The CCD controller is currently being tested. It will be able to read out a 2K CCD in 25 seconds, and will use dynamic antiblooming mode in order to be able to use Hipparcos reference stars for very high precision astrometry. (5) The mechanical assembly has also begun. Tests will be done at the telescope during the 1995 summer. We hope to start regular observations with a single CCD camera at the OCA as soon as possible.
Gerhard Neukum
Hahn Gerhard
Maury Alain
Mottola Stefano
Savalle Renaud
No associations
LandOfFree
The European NEO Search Project within EUNEASO does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The European NEO Search Project within EUNEASO, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The European NEO Search Project within EUNEASO will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1247042