EURONEAR - First Results at Pic du Midi

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
Number of authors
5
IAC number of authors
0
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.