Pan-STARRS Asteroid Search Campaign

Pan-STARRS

Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) is an array of astronomical telescopes, cameras, and computing equipment that surveys the sky on a continual basis.

PSWWW The Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, located at Haleakalā Observatory, Hawaii, US, consists of astronomical cameras, telescopes, and a computing facility that surveys the sky for moving or variable objects on a continual basis. It also produces accurate astrometry and photometry of already-detected objects.

Campaign Results

In the end, we found 13 possible candidates, which didn’t quite beat our record of 22 earlier in the year. Hopefully we can smash that target next time!

To date, we have 5 preliminary discoveries from this campaign, with hopefully more to follow.

International Astronomical Search Collaboration

The International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) is a citizen science programme that provides high-quality astronomical data to citizen scientists around the world.

These citizen scientists are able to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy. The service is provided at no cost.

Asteroid Search Campaigns

Asteroid Search Campaigns are the primary focus of IASC. A campaign is a month-long event in which teams search for asteroids using astronomical observations and analysis tools.

If you are new to IASC and would like more information about participating in asteroid search campaigns, visit the IASC registration page.

Discoveries

This campaign produced five preliminary discoveries to date, demonstrating the value of citizen science in identifying previously unconfirmed moving objects within astronomical survey data.

The search also contributed to the wider effort to identify and track near-Earth objects and other small Solar System bodies through systematic analysis of survey observations.