Operations of Space-Guard Centers in Japan
- Paper number
IAC-08.A6.1.5
- Author
Mr. Susumu Yoshitomi, Japan Space Forum, Japan
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Japan Space Forum, non-profit and public foundation that was established in 19xx, have been managing and operating two dedicated space-guard facilities to observe space debris and Near Earth Objects. There are two sites in Okayama prefecture located in main island of Japan. BISEI(pronounce like “Bee Say”) Space-Guard Center (BSGC) is operating a large 1m diameter optical telescope and 50cm diameter tracking telescope for observing mainly space debris around geostationary orbit and Near Earth Objects since March 2002. KAMISAIBARA(pronounce like “KA-MI-SA-I-BA-RA) Space-Guard Center (KSGC) is operating a S-band radar facility to observe space debris in LEO up to 1000km of altitude since March 2004. In our past observation in BSGC, we discovered two Apollo-type NEOs, which are 2007YZ and asteroid 20826. In addition to them, several hundreds main belt asteroids were discovered. For the purpose of more efficient NEO survey and study, a new mosaic CCD camera have been developed by collaborations with Japan Space Forum and National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. When we start the operation of the new camera, we plan to introduce a filter system with six colors. The system consists of four broad-band filters (SDSS g’, r’, i’, and z) and two narrow-band filters (860 nm and 1020nm). By using those filters system, we will study asteroid taxonomy and other properties of small bodies. In this paper, we present this results of our NEO survey projects and other future observation plans using the new camera.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)