Over the past decade, the evidence has become overwhelming that the impacts of asteroids and/or comets have played a significant role in the evolution of life on earth. It is not a matter of whether there might be major impact generating regional or global effects, but when. Such impacts are extremely rare, but they can produce major disruptions to civilization and perhaps even the survival of our species.
Amateur astronomers, have become an important part of the effort to catalog all potentially dangerous near-earth asteroids. With sensitive CCD cameras, computer controlled telescopes, readily available software, and rapid communication through the internet, many amateur astronomers are better equipped than professionals only 10 years ago. The large area surveys find the bulk of NEOs, but it is the followup by amateurs that allow the orbits to be determined and identification of potentially hazardous objects. The ALPO Minor Planets Section can play a useful role in providing information and perhaps some communication to maximize the usefulness of observations of NEOs.
Steve Larson
Director Catalina Sky Survey
2001 is the bicentennial year of the discovery of the minor planet Ceres. Throughout the past 200 years amateurs have often been the driving force behind the studies of the interesting objects. In the closing years of the 20th century, amateurs have once again joined ranks with their professional colleagues and have become a vital resource in minor planet research. As we begin the 3rd century of minor planet research, the amateur is in a prime position to advance our understanding of minor planets like never before.
Near Earth Objects are currently being discovered at a greatly expended rate as a result of professional survey programs. Additionally, untold numbers of Main Belt Objects are being swept up by these programs and the age where an amateur can discover worlds for themselves in their own backyards is unfortunately nearing an end. This doesn't mean that amateurs should be discouraged. On the contrary! It means the properly equipped, trained and motivated amateur is becoming a more valuable asset to the professional with each passing night! Follow up astrometry, especially on objects below the 18th magnitude provide the observations needed to determine if that newly discovered NEO will impact the earth in a few decades or safely pass us by. Photometry of literally thousands of minor planets is highly desirable. Recent optical photometry of 2000 DP107 by both amateur and professional observers confirmed the orbital period of this binary NEO obtained by radar and as an added bonus, observations of occultations and eclipses of this pair were also observed! We are also starting to see the beginnings of useful amateur spectroscopy. The future is indeed bright for the amateur involved in minor planet research.
I started the Minor Planet Mailing List several years ago in the hope that I could tap into the well spring of knowledge that I was sure was "out there somewhere". I did this to save myself from stumbling through the learning process so I could make meaningful observations sooner rather than later. MPML has grown to have apparently become a great resource to the minor planet community. MPML now covers a range of topics from beginning astrometry to radar observations and orbital mechanics.
As the amateur minor planet community continues to grow, some of MPML's shortcomings have become more evident. One is the need for a coordinated approach for professional astronomers to make requests of scientifically useful observations. Much time has been spent on MPML explaining how to find "interesting" targets without spending time on those that are already "over-observed". After several months, these topics once again are raised and discussed at varying length. Alternately there are times when amateurs just at the start of their minor planet programs join the list and are overwhelmed by the level of discussion which are currently proceeding on the list.
Such is the sometimes-ephemeral nature of this mailing list.
The Minor Planet Section can bridge these gaps inherent in MPML by providing a place where beginning minor planet observers can turn to for the mentoring that is required in the early stages of our observing programs. The MPS can also be the obvious source that professional researchers can look to with confidence when they need observational assistance from the dedicated and advanced amateur.
The Minor Planet Bulletin has already become the standard for the publication of minor planet lightcurves. As more amateurs equip there observatories to obtain useful photometry of main belt objects and NEOs, there shall be a greater need for teaching these amateurs how to obtain, reduce and publish their data. Additionally, numerous objects have lengthy rotation periods. Studies of these objects are best met via a coordinated campaign of observers at various longitudes.
ALPO has a long history of bringing amateur and professional together
for the greater good of planetary science. Technology continues to
provide today's (and tomorrow's) amateur with research tools and
opportunities unheard of just a few short years ago. Amateurs
dominated minor planet research in the 19th century and professionals
dominated the research in the 20th. As we enter the 21st century,
ALPO's Minor Planet Section stands at the forefront of the
strengthening partnership between amateurs and professionals and the
study of these fascinating objects.