Minor Planet Search Using TOAST

1. Minor Planet Search Using TOAST Simulation: 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. Abstract: 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. Joel G. DownsandTimothy R. Young 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: 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. Figure 1: TOAST 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). 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. 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. The University of Arizona Press, Tuscon, AZ. “MPC Submission Information”, Minor Planet Center, http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/info/TechInfo.html, July 15, 2003 Young, Timothy R. TOAST Presentation Poster. 2003. This research is supported by 1. NASA ND EPSCoR #NCC5-582 2. AAS small grants program 3. NSF EPSCoR #EPS-9874802 4. ND EPSCoR AURA program