AstroJourneys – Observing Asteroids with Remote telescopes
Introduction:
Asteroids with Remote Telescopes (pdf)
Teachers Manuals about the topics are available:
Solar System Overview (EU-Project STAND)
Asteroids and Comets (EU-Project STAND)
Observing Asteroids with The Schools Observatory / Faulkes Telescope Project
Option 1 (live observation):
1) Register at The Schools Observatory (TSO) as „Educator“.
2) Log into your TSO account and book an RTI slot for a live observation with a 2m telecope either FTN in Hawaii or FTS in Siding Spring, Australia).
An online guide how to use the interface is available.
3) Enter the coordinates of the Asteroid and start the observation.
See the section „useful links“ below for possible objects and their coordinates from the Minor Planet Center.
Option2 (offline queue):
1) Contact FTP-Europlanet to get an account at Las Cumbres Observatory via info @ ftp-europlanet.eu .
2) Login at LCO Observation Portal | Submitted Requests.
Follow the instructions in the Faulkes and LCO Robotic Telescope Handbook (EU-Project STAND).
A detailed description how to get orbital elemens of asteroids and how to enter them into the portal
can be found in the toolkit Observing Asteroids with the Faulkes and LCO Robotic Telescopes (EU-Project STAND).
Analyzing the images
After your observation you can dlownload the images and analyze them with the online worksheets provided by AiM Münster Most important is Moving Objects JS9(AiM) (English).
How to blink the images to find the asteroids is explained within these worksheets on the right side.
Sample Images:
Asteroid (47144) Faulkes
Asteroid 2024 HP (PHA)
Comet C/2023A3
Measuring the position and brightness of asteroids with the Software „Astrometrica“ (for advanced users!)
Software download: http://astrometrica.at/Astrometrica-411.zip
Toolkit: Setting up and Using Astrometrica to Measure Asteroids
Astrometrica Configuration Files
MPCOrb (right click and select „save file as“ to download of the Orbit database)
Useful Links:
Asteroid Target List
MPC Ephemeris Service
LCO Observatory Codes
Astrometrica