stringtranslate.com

Bisei Spaceguard Center

The Bisei Spaceguard Center in Japan runs the BATTeRS project since 2000.
The Bisei Astronomical Observatory


The Bisei Spaceguard Center (Japanese: 美星スペースガードセンター) (BSGC) is a spaceguard facility adjacent to the Bisei Astronomical Observatory [ja] (BAO), an astronomical observatory located at Bisei-chō, Ibara, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The facility was constructed during 1999–2000,[2] where it since conducts the Bisei Asteroid Tracking Telescope for Rapid Survey or BATTeRS (バッターズ), an astronomical survey that solely tracks asteroids and space debris. BATTeRS has discovered numerous minor planets and the periodic, Halley-type comet and near-Earth object C/2001 W2 (BATTERS).[1][3]

Space debris, along with defunct spaceships, satellites as well as other small objects can present a hazard to operating spacecraft. Built by the Japan Space Forum (JSF) with contributions by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,[2] all expenses of the center are covered by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The telescopes which keep track of any space debris are staffed and operated by members of the Japan Spaceguard Association.

The 1-meter Cassegrain telescope has a field of view of three degrees and there are plans to use a mosaic of ten CCD detectors each one of which will have dimensions of 2096 x 4096 pixels.[2] A 0.5-meter telescope with a field of view of 2 x 2 degrees began operations in February 2000.[2] Once the 1-meter NEO search telescope begins operations, the 0.5-meter telescope will be used to provide follow-up astrometric observations.

The main-belt asteroid 17286 Bisei, discovered by BATTeRS in July 2000, was named after the town where the Bisei Spaceguard Center and the Bisei Astronomical Observatory are located.[4]

BATTeRS(Bisei Asteroid Tracking Telescope for Rapid Survey) is the one of global NEO survey sites.

List of discovered minor planets

BATTeRS has discovered more than 400 minor planets during its course.[1] As an anomaly, the survey is also credited with the discovery of (100501) 1996 XA19 at Kiso Observatory in 1996, or 4 years before the Bisei Spaceguard Center was constructed.[5] Members of the program include Atsuo Asami, David J. Asher and Syuichi Nakano. Takeshi Urata was also a former member of BATTerS.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Yoshikawa, M.; Asami, A.; Asher, D.; Fuse, T.; Hashimoto, N.; Isobe, S.; et al. (September 2002). "Current status of asteroid observations in Bisei Spaceguard center". Memorie della Società' Astronomica Italiana. 73 (3): 772–775. Bibcode:2002MmSAI..73..772Y. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  3. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: C/2001 W2 (BATTERS)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(17286) Bisei". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (17286) Bisei. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 845. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_9405. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  5. ^ "100501 (1996 XA19)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2 November 2016.

External links