NEO Research Project in Korea

Wonyong Han1, Yong-Ik Byun2, Hong-Suh Yim1,Young-Jun Choi1 , Hong-Kyu Moon1 & NESS Team

1Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) 2Yonsei University

Contents1. Brief History2. Ystar-Neopat Program3. Ness program4. Future work

1. Brief History

1998 : YUO1 started YSTAR2 program and developed 50-cm wide-field telescope systems for detection and monitoring optical brightness variations and moving objects.

1999 : KASI3 formed a task force named NEOPAT4 and started NEO follow-up observation using their 0.6-m and 1.8-m optical telescopes.

1Yonsei University Observatory, 2Yonsei Survey Telescopes for Astronomical Research 3Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, 4Near-Earth Object PATrol

1998~1999 (Preparation)

The Korean Ministry of Science and Technology awarded a research grant to the KASI NEOPAT group to establish the National Research Lab (NRL) for NEO survey.

` NEOPAT and YSTAR groups started to work together in order to combine their expertise and resources.

In late 2003, our 1st telescope, started regular operation in Sutherland, South Africa. In late 2005, we commissioned 2nd telescope in Siding Spring Observatory, Australia.

2000~2005 (YSTAR-NEOPAT Program)

`

KASI started 2nd generation NEOPAT program : NESS (Near Earth Space Survey)

This program is to develop new 0.6 robotic telescopes for stereo observations.

And also to develop stable technology of automatic ob-servatory for network & stereo observations.

2007~ (NESS Program)

2. YSTAR-NEOPAT Program

• 0.5 meter aperture• FOV 1.73 1.73 deg with 2k CCD• Reaches ~ 17th mag with 60 sec exposures• High speed mount, 10 deg/sec

TELESCOPE SYSTEM : T1-T2

Sky Monitor

AWS Enclosure

Computer

Observatory System

Computer System

Gateway Web Server Firewall

PROCESS

Sky Monitor GPS Receiver Weather Station

Telescope Control Dome Control

WEBCAM

DATAData Storage

4 Security Cameras

SCOPE MASTER

Data Analysis

SKYCCD

MAINCCD CCD Control

HUB

Internet

South Africa Station, Sutherland (April, 2002)

Australia Station, Siding Spring (December 2004)Austrailia Station, Siding Spring (Januanry, 2005)

DATA PIPELINE : FindMoversOn-Site computers run near real-time image processing and discovery routines. For each NEO candidate, a stamp animation and report file is created and forwarded to Ko-rea for visual confirmation.

Prepare by Y. H. Bae

South Africa Station

New Variable Stars- Found a few hundred of variable stars not previously catalogued (paper in prepara-tion)

Prepare by Y. H. Bae

Moving Objects- Number of Nights : 73 - Number of Mover Candidates : 1029- Peak Magnitude : R~15- Peak Velocity : ~0.2deg/day

R magnitude Velocity (deg/day)

Num

ber o

f ca

ndid

ates

N

umbe

r of

cand

idat

es

Prepare by Y. H. Bae

3. Near Earth Space Survey

New 0.6m telescope systemsPrepare by Y. H. Bae

Automatic/Robotic ObservatoryOur strategy is focused to increase sky coverage by employing multiple telescopes

Automatic Observatory is the best and only solution to operate multiple telescopes with small man power

We have developed the s/w for automatic observa-tions, automatic data processing andself-protection in emergency.

Please see the Poster “The Small Fast Robotic Observation System”

Network Observation

Multiple telescopes placed in different longitudesallow continuous observations for a given target

Network Observation is a powerful tool of time series monitoring for variables stars, NEO photometry and intraday variability of many celestial objects.

Please see the Poster “The Network Observation Using Several Robotic Telescopes”

Stereo Observation

Stereo Observation is to observe to the same target at the same time by telescopes in different locations. For nearby targets such as NEO, stereo observations

provide accurate orbital elements quickly by direct distance estimates.

The accuracy and range of distance measurements depend on the separation of two (or more) tele-scopes.

Please see the Poster “Stereo Observations for Near Earth Space Survey”

4. Future Work

Near Earth Space Survey (NESS) Network of Automatic Observatories

T1Sutherland

T2Siding Spring

T3Daejeon