Asteroids, comets and meteorite-dropping bolides studied from the montsec astronomical observatory

Abstract

Multiple observational techniques are used to quantify the flux of meteoroids, asteroids and comets through near-Earth space. Telescopic CCD observations collect significant data of Earth-crossers being usually few hundreds of meters in diameter. These objects can be only observed during close approaches with Earth and are the most direct source of contemporary hazard to us. The 0.8 m Joan Oró Telescope located at Montsec Astronomical Observatory (Catalonia) allows a wide range of research in the minor bodies domain to be carried out. In this paper, two of its outstanding observational projects are described: (1) a follow-up of Near Earth Asteroids and Potentially Hazardous Asteroids during close approaches to our planet, and (2) a campaign collecting disk-integrated photometry of selected main belt asteroids which aims to enhance the Solar System science coming out from Gaia space mission. Additionally, a CCD-based all-sky camera together with video cameras from Catalonia stations record the appearance of large bolides that are linked with their parent asteroids using dissimilarity functions and backwards integrations of their respective orbits. With all these data it is expected to obtain not only a better understanding of the rate of meter-to tens of meters-sized asteroids impacting with Earth per unit of time, but also inferring new clues on the sources of these dangerous projectiles.