Astronomical School’s Report, 2004, Volume 5, Issue 1-2, Pages 242–245

https://doi.org/10.18372/2411-6602.05.1242
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UDC UDC 520.2.07

Automatic telescope for observation of near-Earth asteroids

Rumyantsev V.V., Chernykh N.S.

Crimean Astrophysical Observatory

Abstract

The old 64-cm Richter–Slefogt telescope (F=90 cm) of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory was reconstructed and equipped with the ST-8 CCD camera supplied by The Planetary Society as the Eugene Shoemaker Near Earth Object Grant. The first observations of minor planets and comets were made with the telescope in 2000. The CCD matrix of ST-8 camera in the focus of our telescope covers field of 52.7′×35.1′. With 120-second exposure we obtain the images of stars up to the limiting magnitude of 20.5 mag within S/N=3. The first phase of automation of the telescope was completed in May 2002. According to our estimations, the telescope will be able to cover the sky area of 20 square deg with threefold overlapping during the night. The software for object localization, image parameters determination, stars identification, astrometric reduction, identification and cataloguing of asteroids is worked up. The first observation results obtained with the 64-cm CCD telescope are discussed.

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References

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  4. Helin E., Dunbar R. Search techniques for near-Earth asteroids, Vistas in astronomy, 1990, 33, P. 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/0083-6656(90)90030-c

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