Semi-Automated Detection Of Interplanetary Objects

L . G Taff; A . J . Yakutis; R L Haase; D M Jonuskis

doi:10.1117/12.968085

13 October 1986 Semi-Automated Detection Of Interplanetary Objects

L . G Taff, A . J . Yakutis, R L Haase, D M Jonuskis

Proceedings Volume 0627, Instrumentation in Astronomy VI; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.968085
Event: 1986 Astronomy Conferences, 1986, Tucson, United States

Abstract

The search for, the detection of, and the discrimination among moving objects has been a labor-intensive, time-consuming task. Earth-approaching asteroids, tenth planets, comets, meteoroids, and so on fill part of the solar system in an unpredictable way. Using state-of-the-art, low-light-level, beam-scanned, electron-bombarded silicon television cameras on a telescope equipped with a microprocessor/minicomputer control system, we have searched for Earth-approaching minor planets for several years. Two gener.tions of ever increasingly sophisticated analog and digital video data handling and image processing have now been upgraded with the addition of a VICOM Systems Inc. model 1800 digital image processor. The VICOM, with its own microprocessor, real-time digital video disc storage, and other peripherals allows for the real-time implementation of video processing algorithms which discriminates moving objects from the stellar background. As of the submission date of this abstract, all this is working at our observatory in a semi-automatic mode. We hope to have this fully automatic with the replacement of the current cameras by state-of-the-art, very low noise, very high transfer efficiency, and high quantum efficiency charge coupled device cameras. The capabilities of this system would be such that searches for variable intensity (but fixed in position) sources are feasible too. Whether supernovae, novae, flare stars, or other types of variability are sought, this would be the next step for our observatory. However, the detector/data handling/control/image processing problems associated with this task are much more difficult to solve.

Citation Download Citation

L . G Taff, A . J . Yakutis, R L Haase, and D M Jonuskis "Semi-Automated Detection Of Interplanetary Objects", Proc. SPIE 0627, Instrumentation in Astronomy VI, (13 October 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.968085

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