Observing near-earth objects with the james webb space telescope

Cristina A. Thomas; Paul Abell; Julie Castillo-Rogez; Nicholas Moskovitz; Michael Mueller; Vishnu Reddy; Andrew Rivkin; Erin Ryan; John Stansberry

doi:10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018002

Observing near-earth objects with the james webb space telescope

Cristina A. Thomas, Paul Abell, Julie Castillo-Rogez, Nicholas Moskovitz, Michael Mueller, Vishnu Reddy, Andrew Rivkin, Erin Ryan, John Stansberry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has the potential to enhance our understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs). We present results of investigations into the observability of NEOs given the nominal observing requirements of JWST on elongation (85°–135°) and non-sidereal rates (<30 mas s⁻¹). We find that approximately 75% of NEOs can be observed in a given year. However, observers will need to wait for appropriate observing windows. We find that JWST can easily execute photometric observations of meter-sized NEOs that will enhance our understanding of the small NEO population.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1-6
Number of pages	6
Journal	Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Volume	128
Issue number	959
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018002
State	Published - Jan 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Asteroids: general
Minor planets
Telescopes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1088/1538-3873/128/959/018002

Cite this

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abstract = "The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has the potential to enhance our understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs). We present results of investigations into the observability of NEOs given the nominal observing requirements of JWST on elongation (85°–135°) and non-sidereal rates (<30 mas s−1). We find that approximately 75% of NEOs can be observed in a given year. However, observers will need to wait for appropriate observing windows. We find that JWST can easily execute photometric observations of meter-sized NEOs that will enhance our understanding of the small NEO population.",

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T1 - Observing near-earth objects with the james webb space telescope

AU - Thomas, Cristina A.

AU - Abell, Paul

AU - Castillo-Rogez, Julie

AU - Moskovitz, Nicholas

AU - Mueller, Michael

AU - Reddy, Vishnu

AU - Rivkin, Andrew

AU - Ryan, Erin

AU - Stansberry, John

PY - 2016/1

Y1 - 2016/1

N2 - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has the potential to enhance our understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs). We present results of investigations into the observability of NEOs given the nominal observing requirements of JWST on elongation (85°–135°) and non-sidereal rates (<30 mas s−1). We find that approximately 75% of NEOs can be observed in a given year. However, observers will need to wait for appropriate observing windows. We find that JWST can easily execute photometric observations of meter-sized NEOs that will enhance our understanding of the small NEO population.

AB - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has the potential to enhance our understanding of near-Earth objects (NEOs). We present results of investigations into the observability of NEOs given the nominal observing requirements of JWST on elongation (85°–135°) and non-sidereal rates (<30 mas s−1). We find that approximately 75% of NEOs can be observed in a given year. However, observers will need to wait for appropriate observing windows. We find that JWST can easily execute photometric observations of meter-sized NEOs that will enhance our understanding of the small NEO population.

KW - Asteroids: general

KW - Minor planets

KW - Telescopes

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Observing near-earth objects with the james webb space telescope

Abstract

Keywords

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