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Automated Asteroid Detection and Tracking

Automated Asteroid Detection and Tracking. Carson Fuls Stephen F. Austin State University. A Wakeup Call. Feb. 15 2013 an asteroid enters Earth’s atmosphere over the Russian city Chebarkul . Asteroid was ~ 15m wide and exploded with several kilotons of energy

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Automated Asteroid Detection and Tracking

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  1. Automated Asteroid Detection and Tracking Carson Fuls Stephen F. Austin State University

  2. A Wakeup Call • Feb. 15 2013 an asteroid enters Earth’s atmosphere over the Russian city Chebarkul. • Asteroid was ~ 15m wide and exploded with several kilotons of energy • Caused millions in property damage and ~1000 injuries AP Photo/Chelyabinsk.ru OLEG KARGOPOLOV/AFP/Getty Images Andrei Ladygin/Russian Look/Zuma Press/MCT

  3. Latest Numbers Latest Numbers As of March 19, 2014 MPC reports: • 640,207 Total Objects • 10,697 Near-Earth Asteroids • 866 Near-Earth Asteroids > 1km • 1,462 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids ArmaghObservatory 2007

  4. Our Goal • Deploy as many observational resources as possible, whenever possible, to search for asteroids • Minimize setup and downtime for our resources Equipment • AllSkyCam • 41” Telescope • 16” Telescope

  5. All-Sky • Installed summer of 2013 • Able to know detailed sky conditions in real time • Used in conjunction with weather station to decide on observing schedules • Continuous data saved for 7 months

  6. 41” Telescope • Constructed in 1983, computer controlled in 1986 • Moving towards full computer control • Will allow for remote operation and eventually autonomous observing

  7. 41” Telescope • Route power to the rotating dome for computer controlled shutter operation • Electronically controlled mirror covers • All systems integrated into ITAS control software • Dome rotation problems!

  8. 16” Telescope • Meade LX200-ACF • All ready for autonomousobserving • ACP, TheSkyX, MaximDL,FocusMax all need tocommunicate • Roll-off roof problems? • Fixed!

  9. Future Projects • Radial encoding of 41” telescopes friction drive wheels • Develop drivers for 41” telescope to work with automation software • Build fireball and meteor detection program for AllSkyCam data

  10. Questions? • http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/observatory/obs.htm • http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/allskycam/ • carsonfuls@yahoo.com

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