ASTEROIDS EXPLORATION WITH BALDONE SCHMIDT TELE-SCOPE

Abstract

CCD observations of asteroids were ob-tained in 2008 with the Baldone Schmidt telescope (aper-ture/diameter/focal length = 80/120/240 cm) at the Bal-done Astrophysical observatory (code 069) of the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Latvia. The methodology of monitoring of asteroids and orbit calculations are described. In the Minor Planet Circulars and the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars 5434 astrometric positions of 1488 asteroids were published. Among them, 76 asteroids of different type were newly discovered at Baldone Observatory. Twelve asteroids were named. Baldone Schmidt telescope optical system was im-proved by inserting an additional optical system in the telescope, forming a flat telescope focal surface that coin-cides with the surface of the flat beam receiver. Two large (4096 x 4096 pixels) CCD cameras are now installed on the plate holder of the telescope. They cover two square degrees of the sky. The digitizing of the Baldone Schmidt archive began in 2012. The processing results of 152 plates obtained in U, B, V, R bands in 1967-1996 were used to search for imag-es of small bodies of the Solar system. Images were pro-cessed using advanced complex LINUX / MIDAS / RO-MAPHOT programs updated in the Main Observatory of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. 57 asteroids and 2 comets (31P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 2, C/1969 T1 (Tago-Sato-Kosaka)) were identified on these plates. Overall 87 positions of asteroids of different types and 2 positions of comets were measured. These objects cover magnitude range from 9.8 to 17.1.

Keywords

• астероїди
• камера шмідта
• архів фотоплатівок