Solar system astronomy with the 3.6-m DOT and the 4-m ILMT
Source
Bulletin de la Societe Royale des Sciences de Liege
Date Issued
2018-04-01
Author(s)
Ganesh, Shashikiran
Venkataramani, Kumar
Baliyan, Kiran S.
Joshi, U. C.
Volume
vol. 87
Abstract
Solar system astronomy would be an important field of study with the 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope
(DOT) and the 4-m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT). In this contribution, we highlight the work that could be done in reaching a better understanding of the Solar system and its constituents - particularly
the minor bodies and other smaller objects. There may be a large number of very faint objects in the vicinity
of the Earth orbit. In fact only recently a "second moon" of the Earth has been found and has been designated
2016 HO3. This is a quasi-satellite with the same period of revolution around Earth and Sun. There could be many such objects and it is important to have a full characterization and understanding of these potentially
hazardous objects. They are generally fainter than 18th magnitude and one would need a lot of telescope time
to fully characterize these objects using techniques of spectropolarimetry. In a similar fashion, a deep census
of the Kuiper Belt Objects and the TNOs is needed. In this census, the concept of pencil beam surveys could
be extended to cylindrical transit imaging technique available with the 4-m ILMT.
(DOT) and the 4-m International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT). In this contribution, we highlight the work that could be done in reaching a better understanding of the Solar system and its constituents - particularly
the minor bodies and other smaller objects. There may be a large number of very faint objects in the vicinity
of the Earth orbit. In fact only recently a "second moon" of the Earth has been found and has been designated
2016 HO3. This is a quasi-satellite with the same period of revolution around Earth and Sun. There could be many such objects and it is important to have a full characterization and understanding of these potentially
hazardous objects. They are generally fainter than 18th magnitude and one would need a lot of telescope time
to fully characterize these objects using techniques of spectropolarimetry. In a similar fashion, a deep census
of the Kuiper Belt Objects and the TNOs is needed. In this census, the concept of pencil beam surveys could
be extended to cylindrical transit imaging technique available with the 4-m ILMT.