Astrometry of Fast-moving Objects using Video
Presenter(s): Mr Dave Herald & Hristo Pavlov
Affiliation(s): Canberra Astronomical Society/Astronomical Society of NSW, International Occultation Timing Association
Session details: Sunday, 2010-04-04 04:00:00
Abstract
Obtaining accurate astrometry of fast-moving objects (such as near-earth asteroids) is difficult with usual CCD techniques. Video of asteroid 2009 DD45 in early 2009 (which moved at several arc seconds per second at closest approach) was used to obtain astrometry of this asteroid. The astrometry was precise, and led to the techniques required to use video for astrometry being written up and published on the web site of the Minor Planet Center.
Biography
Dave’s interests in Astronomy include astrometry of asteroids and comets, observing Baily Beads in solar eclipses, and lunar and asteroid occultations. He is the author of the program Occult, and a recipient of the Berenice Page award. Hristo has been an active occultation observer since 2007 with more than a dozen video-recorded asteroidal occultations. He has been a presenter at all three previous Trans Tasman Symposiums on Occultations (TTSO). He is also the author of Occult Watcher, a popular planning software utility used by observers of asteroidal occultations. This was presented for the very first time at the 1st TTSO in Auckland, New Zealand in 2007. Hristo also has interests in photometry and astrometry of asteroids and comets and has been working on a software package for video photometry and astrometry that will be demonstrated at the 4th TTSO in Canberra in 2010.