OAS - Osservatorio Astronomico Sormano
	OAS > Orbit identification of asteroid and comet (computations)

Sormano Astronomical Observatory

Orbit identification of asteroids and comets (computations)

During sky survey, asteroids are found and among them PHAs (Potential Hazardous Asteroids) or MBAs (Main Belt Asteroids) already observed in the past and lost from many years. The recovery of these objects, especially PHAs or Comets, as a linkage between orbits has a great value in the field of the minor bodies of the Solar System. This is another important computational activity made at Sormano Observatory; thanks to the regular update of an internal observations and orbits database ( A. Testa, Sormano Observatory ) on the basis of MPC's monthly publications, we are able to start with a first check between different set of orbital elements or objects for which has not been calculated a preliminary orbit. This process allow us to identify possible lost objects on the basis of the orbit computation.

In addition internal Software were developed to be used with data in output from the OrbFit Software Package both to recovery minor planets discovered at Sormano and NEAs ( A. Testa and F. Manca, Sormano Observatory, please see also the internal report n. 68) and our contribution " Minor Planet Recovery" during the "Fifth Italian Meeting of Planetary Science, ( 2003 F. Manca, A. Testa, M. Carpino)".

Presentation of methods and results on identification of asteroids and comets at 15th Meeting of the Steering Committee (17-18 Oct 2022) IAWN

Identification of asteroids and comets (orbital computation and observations)
with Contributors as reported in monthly MPCs
and links to the MPECs issued by the Minor Planet Center

Contact us at obs.sormano@alice.it

Diagram reporting the total number of identification filtered in according to their original groups