Research Centre of Astronomy and Geophysics Mongolian Academy of Sciences

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Research Centre of Astronomy and Geophysics
Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Study of near-earth objects in Mongolia. Space
debris, asteroids and comets
Tungalag Namkhai

• Outreach seminar
• in margins of
• 55th session of Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
  Outer Space 11 June 2012

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• Introduction
• The Research Centre of Astronomy and Geophysics
  (RCAG) of Mongolia is unique research
  organization in Mongolia specializing in
  fundamental astronomical and geophysical
  research. The RCAG was founded in 1957 during the
  first International Geophysical Year. From the
  early years onwards, the following research
  activities were undertaken
• study of latitude variations in a network of
  astronomical observatories
• time keeping service
• observation of near-Earth artificial satellites
  
• observation of solar active phenomena
• study of impact of atmospheric turbulence on
  seeing quality.

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Astronomical branch of the RCAG

• Research activities carrying out at observatory
  Khureltogoot (latitude 4751'56'' N, longitude
  10703'10'' E, altitude 1620 m) located on the
  Bogd Mountain, about 20 km south of the capital
  city Ulaanbaatar
• - Astrometric and photometric observations of
  solar system small bodies,
• - Observation of the solar surface phenomena,
  sunspot, the suns corona,
• - Space geodesy.
• Collaboration of RCAG with the ISON project
• - Started in 2009
• - Successful joint grant proposal for scientific
  basic research foundation in 2010
• - Joint establishing of new observational
  station Tavantolgoi in 2011 (latitude 4753'08''
  N, longitude 10620'03'' E, altitude 1704 m)
  located on 55 km west of Ulaanbaatar city

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The astronomical observatory Khureltogoot
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The observational station Tavantolgoi
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Instruments
Telescope Lens (mm) FOV Telescope mode Mag Registration camera
ORI-40 (ISON produced telescope and donated CCD-camera) F2300 D400 35'x25' Tracking 14.5 CCD camera FLI ML09000, 3000x3000
VT-78e (ISON-donated instrument) D192 7x7 Tracking 15 CCD camera FLI ML09000, 3000x3000
MEADE 16" LX 200  F4064 D406.4 25'x25' Tracking 16 CCD camera SBIG ST-6
Telescope Shmidt F3000 D45 35'x25' Tracking 14 Photographic
FAS3A F485 D285 7x10 Stare 10 Photographic
APhU75 F745 D 200 7x10 Stare 10 Photographic
Refractor Kude F3000 D200 5x5 Stare 14
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ISON produced and donated hardware and software
tools for observations
The ORI-40 and VT-78e telescopes, CCD cameras,
time sync devices, mounts, CCD image processing
software
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Study of near-earth and main belt asteroids

• Started at RCAG in 2000
• Photometry prime approach to conduct research
• Direction of studies
• lightcurve observation of selected asteroids,
• development of numerical photometric model of
  asteroids,
• determination of theirs rotation parameters and
  shapes,
• analysis and interpretation of the data on
  asteroid rotation
• CCD observations of asteroids 122 Gerda, 221
  Eos, 411 Xanthe, 700 Auravictrix, 787 Moskva were
  carried out and rotation parameters and shapes of
  39 asteroids were determined

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Monitoring of near-earth objects within the
framework of the ISON project

• Joining the ISON project permits us to expand
  areas of research and enhance the quality of
  output
• the astrometric and photometric observation of
  near-Earth solar system bodies including
  satellites, space debris, asteroids and comets
• investigation of high-orbital space debris
  population
• study of orbital evolution, origin and physical
  properties of faint debris fragments in the
  geostationary region.

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Monitoring of near-earth objects within the
framework of the ISON project (cont.)
Two new telescopes ORI-40 (aperture 40cm) and
VT-78e (aperture 19.2cm) with CCD cameras FLI
ML09000 were installed in Astronomical
Observatory Tavantolgoi of the RCAG with the help
of the ISON project. ORI-40 is 0.4 m class
telescope with FOV 2.3x2.3, which is dedicated
for observation of asteroid and faint space
debris fragment (down to 17 magnitudes). VT-78e
is 19.2-cm class survey telescope with large FOV
7x7 for observation of space debris. This
telescope provides wide surveys of the GEO and
HEO objects and makes tracks and measurements for
GEO and HEO objects down to 14.5 magnitudes
(around the new Moon).
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Thank you for your attention!