Speaker
Description
For more than a decade, here at ESA's NEO Coordination Centre we have been focusing on obtaining high-precision astrometry of priority targets. Over this time, we have developed resources and capabilities that allow for a quick and accurate response to Planetary Defence observational needs.
This talk will begin with an overview of our capabilities, emphasising the value of fast response and global coverage in astrometric work on targets relevant to planetary defence.
Will then turn our attention to the role of image quality, field of view and sampling in following up faint sources and extracting accurate astrometry. We will also briefly discuss on the specific difficulties posed by trailing, galactic confusion, extended objects or observations at low solar elongation, together with the techniques we use to address them.
Finally, we will outline our strategies for dealing with common challenges in astrometric follow-up, such as large ephemeris uncertainties (also in velocity space) and the faintness of a target when observed with moderate-size facilities. Such issues will become even more important, for both amateur and professional observers, once the increased flow of new discoveries from large surveys like Rubin begins.
