Bibcode
Colas, Francois; Birlan, M.; Vaduvescu, O.; Nedelcu, A.; Sonka, A.
Bibliographical reference
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #58.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.592
Advertised on:
9
2006
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
EURONEAR - The European Near Earth Asteroid Research is a project
initiated recently by a small team presently based in France, Romania,
and South Africa. It envisions to build a coordinated network which will
follow-up and recover Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) and Near
Earth Asteroids (NEAs), using time available at 1m class telescopes in
Europe and elsewhere. Astrometry is the main aim of the project, in
order to follow-up and secure newly discovered NEAs, also to recover
bright PHAs at their second or following oppositions. Photometry of
bright PHAs will allow contributions to determinations of their physical
properties. The first observing run took place between 15-24 May 2006,
using the 1m telescope at Pic du Midi Observatory in France. 13 PHAs and
NEAs were observed there, mostly new objects, flagged as desirable by
Minor Planet Center (MPC). 124 astrometric positions were accepted by
the MPC and included in the NEODyS database. This is the first run in a
series planned to be carried out in the next two years at Pic du Midi
and elsewhere. Other potential collaborators are welcomed.