04-27-2021, 07:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-28-2021, 04:24 AM by HereOnThePrimalEdge.)
The smaller aperture telescopes, such as CFHT, UKIRT, and Pan-STARRS are the observatories that are more likely to detect those sorts of asteroids.
TomK,
Yes, with a wide field capability, taking in more of the sky would provide a better opportunity for spotting an asteroid. Perhaps you can clarify what I understood (misunderstood?) about how the Planetary Defense system operates:
Pan-STARRS on Haleakala, as well as a network of other observatories are dedicated or have dedicated times with which they watch for unusual moving objects against the background of stars. If an object is spotted, the position might then be provided to a larger telescope, one with a relatively wide field, such as the CFHT mentioned in the link I posted. I assumed if the object's path could intersect with earth's orbit, larger observatories might then make observations (knowing it's exact location) and would better determine the object's size, speed, rotation, shape, etc so a more accurate path could be calculated, and we would know sooner if it is on a direct course for earth, and if irregularities in shape or rotation might cause it to bounce off our atmosphere, break apart, or change direction if it did enter our atmosphere. The potential impact map https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/pd/cs/pdc21/ has red dots all across the globe. Wouldn’t observations from a larger telescope reduce the number of possible target areas?
I don't know the procedure for information sharing among observatories so if you have a moment would it be possible to clarify and explain?
Thanks.
TomK,
Yes, with a wide field capability, taking in more of the sky would provide a better opportunity for spotting an asteroid. Perhaps you can clarify what I understood (misunderstood?) about how the Planetary Defense system operates:
Pan-STARRS on Haleakala, as well as a network of other observatories are dedicated or have dedicated times with which they watch for unusual moving objects against the background of stars. If an object is spotted, the position might then be provided to a larger telescope, one with a relatively wide field, such as the CFHT mentioned in the link I posted. I assumed if the object's path could intersect with earth's orbit, larger observatories might then make observations (knowing it's exact location) and would better determine the object's size, speed, rotation, shape, etc so a more accurate path could be calculated, and we would know sooner if it is on a direct course for earth, and if irregularities in shape or rotation might cause it to bounce off our atmosphere, break apart, or change direction if it did enter our atmosphere. The potential impact map https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/pd/cs/pdc21/ has red dots all across the globe. Wouldn’t observations from a larger telescope reduce the number of possible target areas?
I don't know the procedure for information sharing among observatories so if you have a moment would it be possible to clarify and explain?
Thanks.