New Record Created in Asteroid Discovery

On 29th January 2011, new record of 19 objects in one night was created in asteroid discovery using a powerful telescope, Pan-STARRS PS1. The Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System) PS1 telescope is situated at the summit of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. Scientists will be watching two of the space rocks as they will come close to Earth in the near future or over the next century.

Image source: space.com

Pan-STARRS project head is Nick Kaiser. For this type of study, PS1 is the most powerful telescope in the world. Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope can take over 500 photos every night. Astronomers of Pan-STARRS initially identified 30 possible new near-Earth asteroids on the 29th January night. Astronomers sent their findings to the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Mass. Data about asteroids and comets were assembled and allocated by Minor Planet Center so that other astronomers can re-observe the objects.

To confirm, they re-observed many times in 12 to 72 hours and 19 asteroids were confirmed. Asteroids emerge to move against the background of stars so they are discovered. Some of the discoveries were also confirmed by the Telescopes in Illinois, Kansas, Italy, Arizona, Japan, New Mexico and the United Kingdom as well as the Faulkes Telescope on Haleakala. In May 2010, Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope started searching for asteroids. 60 inches wide and powerful digital imaging system was included in Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope. To hunt for potentially threatening asteroids Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope was planned specially.