CCD astrometry of asteroids and comets using the Guide Star Catalog

P. Pravec (1), M. Tichy (2), J. Ticha (2),
Z. Moravec (2), Z. Vavrova (2), M. Velen(3)
(1) Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences,
Ondrejov, Czech Republic
(2) Klet' Observatory, Zatkovo nabrezi 4
CZ-370 01 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
(3) Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract. We found that charge coupled devices (CCD) astrometry of star-like objects has high internal accuracy of several hundredths of a pixel size. The use of the Guide Star Catalog (GSC) as the source of reference stars allows the measurement of absolute positions with accuracy between 0.1 sec and 1.0 sec (typically about 0.5 sec), which is suitable for most observations of asteroids and comets. The density of the GSC (on average 370 stars/sqr.deg) allows the use of even smaller fields of view of only several hundredths of a square degree. Efficient position observations of small Solar System bodies can be done with small and moderate CCD equipped telescopes using the Guide Star Catalog.

Planetary and Space Science, vol. 42, no. 4, p. 345-348
Go to the Previous Page