Catalina Sky Survey
The Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) project searches for comets , asteroids and near-earth objects (NEO). The primary goal is the search for potentially hazardous asteroids ( potentially hazardous asteroid , also called PHAs). The project works with the Mount Lemmon Observatory in the Santa Catalina Mountains , north of Tucson .
Assessment of the threat
Technology has improved so much since the end of the 20th century that it is possible to search for NEOs systematically and largely automatically. Since there would be catastrophic effects for the earth after a possible collision with a sufficiently large object, the US Congress in 1998 commissioned NASA to set up the NEO Observations Program (NEOO) to detect objects larger than 1 kilometer Capture percent. The data obtained are evaluated with the Sentry monitoring system .
In addition to the pure information about how many NEOs there are, there is further knowledge in the NEO project. For example, knowledge about the asteroid belt can be improved, the cometary distribution at greater distances from the Sun can be determined, etc.
Mission objectives
Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) and the affiliated Siding Spring Survey (SSS) carry out the search for NEOs and thus carry out the mandate given by the US Congress.
Information overview
Every month the wide-angle observations cover the observation possibilities to about R ~ 19.5. In order to expand the search volume to greater distances, however, larger equipment is required.
So far, CSS has discovered 310 NEOs in 2005 and 400 in 2006. For the year 2007 it is assumed that 450 objects were found. Particularly important discoveries were:
Asteroid 2007 WD 5
As part of these observations, the asteroid named 2007 WD 5 was discovered on November 20, 2007 by CSS team member Andrea Boattini . This asteroid was given a 1:40 chance of hitting Mars. The date given was January 30, 2008. As a result, the asteroid was observed more closely in order to learn more information about the impact probability, whereby an impact could later be excluded.
Asteroid 2007 TU 24
2007 TU 24 was discovered on October 11, 2007. The diameter was determined to be around 300 to 600 m. The asteroid crossed Earth's orbit on January 29, 2008 at a distance of 554,209 km, which is around 1.44 times the distance to the moon. Otherwise, not much is known about this asteroid; however, the first radar observations were made, for example from the Goldstone Observatory on January 23rd.
Asteroid 2008 TC 3
On October 6, 2008, the asteroid 2008 TC 3 was discovered and calculated that it would enter the earth's atmosphere on October 7, 2008 at 4:46 CEST over northern Sudan . It was thus possible for the first time to correctly predict an asteroid impact on Earth.
Asteroid 2009 KK
On May 17, 2009, the near-Earth asteroid 2009 KK was discovered with a diameter of around 270 m, which was assigned to danger level 1 on the Turin scale on May 22, 2009 ; further observations reduced the value to 0 on June 10 .
Asteroid 2014 AA
On January 1, 2014, Richard Kowalski discovered the small asteroid 2014 AA , which collided with Earth on January 2, 2014. It was the second time, after 2008 TC 3 , that an asteroid was observed prior to entering the earth's atmosphere.
Asteroid 2018 UA
On October 19, 2018, the Apollo-type 2018 UA asteroid, a few meters across, discovered by Catalina Sky Survey flew past Earth at a distance of less than 20,000 km.
CSS / SSS team
The CSS team is headed by Steve Larson from the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory .
The complete team consists of the astronomers:
- Steve Larson
- Ed Beshore
- Rik Hill
- Richard Kowalski
- Alex Gibbs
- Andrea Boattini
- Al Grauer
In Australia:
- Robert McNaught
- Gordon Garradd
- Donna Burton
As a quasi “by-product” of the observations of this group there are various first discoveries of comets, which either bear the name of the discoverer or, in addition to the astronomical name, the additional name Catalina or Siding Spring .
Others
In June 2014, Planetary Resources and the Citizen Science web portal Zooniverse started the "Asteroid Zoo" project, with data from the Catalina Sky Survey being evaluated by the interested public. The aim of the search is to find previously unknown objects that could possibly be used for an asteroid mining in the future or that pose a threat in the event of a collision with the earth .
proof
- ↑ Catalina Sky Survey Discovers Space Rock That Could Hit Mars . Retrieved December 22, 2007.
- ↑ Recently Discovered Asteroid Could Hit Mars in January . Retrieved December 22, 2007.
- ↑ Steve Chesley, Paul Chodas and Don Yeomans: 2007 WD5 Mars Collision Effectively Ruled Out - Impact Odds now 1 in 10,000 . NASA / JPL Near-Earth Object Program Office. January 9th 2008 . Retrieved January 9, 2008.
- ↑ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-014a
- ↑ Rick Weiss: Asteroid to Miss Earth Today. In: The Washington Post . January 28, 2008, accessed June 21, 2018 .
- ↑ 'Asteroid Zoo' Enlists Citizen Scientists for Online Hunt nbcnews.com
- ^ The Science asteroidzoo.org, accessed June 26, 2014