Publications
Optimal searches for asteroids
January 1, 1984
Journal Article
Published in:
ICARUS, Vol. 57, No. 2, February 1984, pp. 259-266.
Topic:
R&D area:
R&D group:
Summary
Optimal searches for a fixed object are discussed and the rigorous analytical results of discrete search theory are presented. They show that the totally optimal, the uniformly optimal, the locally optimal, and the fastest searches are identical under not too restrictive assumptions. The mathematical formalism is illustrated by an Earth-approaching asteroid search and optimal searches for such objects are explicitly constructed. The approximation that Earth-approaching asteroids are fixed is equivalent to having a very high (>or=100 square degrees/hr) search rate. Generalizations to other types of astronomical search are briefly mentioned.
Summary
Optimal searches for a fixed object are discussed and the rigorous analytical results of discrete search theory are presented. They show that the totally optimal, the uniformly optimal, the locally optimal, and the fastest searches are identical under not too restrictive assumptions. The mathematical formalism is illustrated by an Earth-approaching...
READ MORE
A new asteroid observation and search technique
October 1, 1981
Journal Article
Published in:
Publ. Astronom. Soc. Pacific, Vol. 93, No. 555, October 1981, pp. 658-660.
Topic:
R&D area:
R&D group:
Summary
A prototype observatory was constructed near Socorro, New Mexico to search for and observe earth-approaching asteroids. Hardware modifications were made so that the discrimination of artificial satellites at an angular speed of 15 arcsec/sec can be used to observe minor planets at an angular speed of 0.01 arcsec/sec. Assuming no correlations between time of perigee passage and time of year, a recovery of 25 asteroids per year is expected.
Summary
A prototype observatory was constructed near Socorro, New Mexico to search for and observe earth-approaching asteroids. Hardware modifications were made so that the discrimination of artificial satellites at an angular speed of 15 arcsec/sec can be used to observe minor planets at an angular speed of 0.01 arcsec/sec. Assuming no...
READ MORE