12–14 Dec 2022
ESOC
Europe/Berlin timezone

Insights into the appearance of close approaching and impacting asteroids from Pan-STARRS

13 Dec 2022, 09:35
20m
Room H.I (ESOC)

Room H.I

ESOC

Robert-Bosch-Str. 5 64293 Darmstadt Germany

Speakers

R. Wainscoat (IFA) R. Weryk (IFA)

Description

Although Pan-STARRS is yet to discover an impacting asteroid, it has discovered a number of close-approaching asteroids. Several of these will be examined as case studies. Close approaching or impacting asteroids may have unremarkable digest scores as they approach Earth, which compounds the discovery problem, since they may not be listed on the Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page (NEOCP). The low digest score occurs because the eastward topocentric motion of the observer induces a westward motion of the approaching asteroid which may be similar to the motion of a main-belt asteroid. Asteroids approaching from east of opposition may also have very slow motion during part of their approach, which also hampers discovery. If an approaching asteroid is seen but not listed on the NEOCP, it will not be analyzed by Scout and NEODyS, and will not be followed up. Close approaching or impacting asteroids will usually exhibit curvature in their motion (depending on the approach geometry). Curvature is not a part of the digest score calculation. Objects showing curvature with modest digest scores must be recognized and manually placed on the NEOCP. Astrometric errors can mimic curvature, and produce erroneous alerts, so care is needed in identifying real curvature in the motion of these nearby objects.

Presentation materials