Discoveries of new asteroids in SkyMorph archive
Database of NEAT images - SkyMorph
SkyMorph is a database of images got in Near Earth Tracking Program (NEAT)
publicly accessible via internet. Selected areas od sky were repeatedly photographed in several periods of time,
so astronomers could search for changes on sky during elapsed time -
you can search for moving objects - asteroids or comets, and you can also search for novaes or supernovaes.
Images archived in SkyMorph database were taken on two observatories: Haleakala, Maui, Hawai Islands
and Mt. Palomar, Arizona, USA. In SkyMorph database are presently stored many thousand images. Inspite of the time elapsed from their original capture, in this archive there is still hidden a big amount of uncatalogized asteroids. And I am searchig for such an unnoticed objects by professionals. I try to get at least three positions from different nights in order to get a provisional designation for them. In the table below you can find a list of new discovered asteroids by this way.
Discovery credit
From the beginning of SkyMorph there was a rule, which said that credit received
the discoverer of asteroid in NEAT archive. In those times many amateur
astronomers were a real hunters and some of them discovered hundreds of new asteroids.
But after the rule changed in 2003, they lost their motivation to go on.
I learned about SkyMorph database in the beginning of 2006. It took me a few months to learn how to search for a new asteroids. I made my first discovery in May 2006. Since then I regurarly search in NEAT images and the number of my discoveries is growing ...
Naming of numbered asteroids
I took the credit rule as a matter of fact and it had no effect on my hunting.
This was for me a good relax and great fun. In summer 2008 after two minor
planets from my discoveries got permanent number I contacted NEAT people. They
accepted names I suggested for those two asteroids - (182 592) Jolana
and (183 294) Langbroek! Another 2 minor planet were named after my proposal
in December 2009 - (194 262) Nové Zámky and (213 636) Gajdo.
Acknowledgement:
on the first place I thank to Marco Langbroek and his perfect "Guide"
that he taught me how to work with SkyMorph,
my thanks goes also to others who helped me with my questions and problems
during my "learning" period: they were Quanzhi Ye,
Krisztián Sárneczky, Rob Matson and Andrew Lowe.
List of my asteroids discoveries from NEAT archive
Last update: 2010 May 30
Notes: U - Uncertainty parameter - is an integer between 0 to 9,
where 0 indicates a very small uncertainty and 9 an extremely large uncertainty for a minor planet orbital solution.
"Lost asteroids"
- I do not count in my list so called "lost asteroids".
I take for lost those objects which I identified and got provisional
designation, but later they were identified as a known objects in MPC
data, so my discovery lost its priority. Up to date I lost 4 asteroids.
Also I do not count in the table my independent discoveries of known objects. Although I identified them as an unknown asteroids, the reason for such an identification was that they were 2 nighter objets with an inaccurate orbits. |
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 Summary of NEAT discoveries:
SkyMorph/NEAT (644):
105
Trojans: 3Main Belt asteroids: 102 Numbered: 14 Multi opposition: 49 Single opposition: 40 2-nighters: 2 Last update: 2010 May 30
Ephemeris for follow up: |