PARTICIPATION IN ISON PROJECT: OBSERVATIONS OF NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS AND GRB AFTERGLOWS Yurij Krugly Outreach seminar in margins of 55 th session of Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 11 June 2012

Institute of Astronomy of Karazin Kharkiv National University UKRAINE 1804: Kharkiv University was found 1808: The astronomy courses were started 1908: The planetary and Moon studies were started 1978: Study of asteroids was started 1995: CCD observations of asteroids were initiated 2006: Cooperation with the ISON project was started

ISON - Scientific Optical Network The ISON project goals: Enhancing international collaboration in optical observations of celestial objects between observatories in developing nations and scientific organizations in industrialized countries Support of existing and establishing new telescope facilities in developing countries Development and implementation of new observation technologies using modern equipment and software tools Education and training The ISON project scientific tasks: Studying man-made space debris Discovery and tracking of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) to improve orbital parameters and to study their physical properties GRB optical afterglow observations

Cooperation with ISON Since 2006 Kharkiv Asteroids and Comets Group cooperates with ISON in photometry of asteroids. Since 2009 Kharkiv Asteroids and Comets Group coordinates asteroid photometry observations within the framework of ISON. Several ISON instruments are involved into this work coordinated from Kharkiv. Several meetings and mutual visits were organized in the framework of ISON cooperation in order - to establish photometric observations - to train observers - to discuss problems of photometry and discovery of asteroids - to improve image processing software tools. Since 2011 Kharkiv Asteroids and Comets Group cooperates with ISON in space debris observations.

70-cm telescope (ISON donated CCD-camera) 25-cm telescope (ISON donated the instrument) Chuguev Observation Station Institute of Astronomy of Karazin Kharkiv National University, UKRAINE ( 15898) KharAsterTeam Kharkiv Asteroids and Comets Group

ASTEROID HAZARD PROBLEM: Contribution from the Optical Observations Discovery of new NEAs. Particularly important discovery of asteroids, which are potentially dangerous for human civilization Observations of newly discovered objects in a follow-up mode to determine their coordinates and to estimate sizes of these bodies The study of the physical properties of NEAs (rotation, composition, shape etc) needed to prevent any future collisions with the Earth.

The Asteroid Subsets Two subsets were formed in the frame of ISON for asteroid’s observations during last three years: (I)Several telescopes (with apertures 40 cm – 2.6 m) are involved in carrying out photometry of asteroids. Also they are used for observations of GRB afterglow. (II)Two wide-field of view telescopes (46 cm and 60 cm) are used for searching asteroids. The main objects of our interest are NEAs. (III)We are forming 3 rd subset of ISON for newly detected NEAs orbit improvement. These telescopes will be able to participate in supporting the alerts of the Gaia mission.

The Network Observatories

Photometric Telescopes in Network Existing telescopes with diameters from 60 cm up to 2.6 m have been modernized within the ISON framework to use in the network: Gissar (Tajikistan), Lisnyky (Ukraine), Chuguev (Ukraine), Simeiz (Ukraine), Abastumani (Georgia), Mayhill (USA), Maidanak (Uzbekistan), Nauchny (Ukraine)

Asteroid Photometry The primary aims: Characterization of the Near-Earth Asteroids (newly discovered ones and especially Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)) that includes determination diameters, shapes, rotation periods, surface properties of the bodies. Searching for binary asteroids and determining parameters of the binary systems Investigation of Yarkovsky-O’Keeffe-Radzievskii-Paddack effect (YORP- effect) – detection of the influence on asteroid’s rotation Support radar observations of NEAs in optics

11 NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID LIGHTCURVES

Main Results of Asteroid Photometry In past 3 years more then 60 NEAs were observed in the frame of ISON and the main results were attained: more then 200 lightcurves were obtained; 10 asteroids were observed to investigate of the YORP effect, and for 3 of them the YORP was detected; 14 new determinations of rotation periods were done; 6 from the obtained periods found to be longer 16 hrs; 2 super-fast rotators were found: 2001 FE90, HE3; 2 binaries were found: 8373 Stephengould, 3352 McAuliffe; and another 3 NEAs were suspected as binaries; absolute magnitudes and BVRI colors were obtained for about 20% for the observed asteroids.

YORP Investigations In results of the lightcurve observations an influence of the Yarkovsky-O’Keeffe- Radzievskii-Paddack effect on asteroid rotation was detected/confirmed for 3 NEAs (Apollo, Geographos, Eger). The work are performed in collaboration with David Vokrouhlicky and Josef Durech from Institute of Astronomy of Charles University (Prague, Czech). It is 3 of 4 asteroids with the YORP detected to the date. Kaasalainen et al. 2007; Durech et al GeographosEgerApollo Durech et al. 2008Durech et al. 2009

1.Searching for binary asteroids and determining parameters of the binary systems is performed in cooperation with Czech astronomers from Ondrejov Astronomical Observatory, Czech Academy of Sciences. 2.To obtain the good results for searching / investigation of binary system we need in regular observations, and as usually as it should be observations during several consecutive nights. The best way to detect and investigate the binary asteroid is to observe the object from several obsevatories located at different longitudes. Binary Asteroids

8373 Stephengould – discovered as binary and then this system was investigated in the project in 2010

16 Asteroid Radar Shape Models: Asteroid Radar Shape Models: Lightcurves of NEA HW1 July-August 2008 August-September 2008

17 Shape Model of HW1: Shape Model of HW1: Radar and Photometry Magri et al. (2011), Icarus 214,

NEA Searching in ISON Two remotely controlled telescopes are involved in asteroid search: 45.5 cm telescope Centurion-18 at ISON-NM Observatory, Mayhill, USA ( H15 ); 60 cm telescope at Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory, UKRAINE ( A50). Both telescopes have a wide field of view: 100x100 and 51x51 arcmin cm telescope (f/2.8) Mayhill, New Mexico 60 cm telescope (f/4) Andrushivka, UKRAINE

Results of Surveys in 2011 H15 ISON-NM Observatory started an asteroid searching in July Obtained more than observations Discovered more than 1000 MBA (provisional designation) Two near-Earth asteroids 2010 RN80 and 2011 QY37 (Amors) Long-period comet C/2010 X1 (Elenin) Short-period near-Earth (q=1.24) comet P/2011 NO1 (Elenin) Several Jovian Trojans A50 Andrushivka Astronomical Observatory beginning asteroid survey in 2003, since 2008 in frame of ISON. In 2011 there are measurements of 9339 asteroids and 3 comets with the 60-cm telescope. It is 13 th place from all observatories. During we are planning to install several new cm telescopes for asteroid search.

The World Results of Asteroid Surveys in 2011 (based on data provided by MPC) № MPC Code Name Total observations Total objects Numbered MPs Unnumbered MPs Comets % Num. MPs % Unnum. MPs % Comets 1G96Mt. Lemmon Survey %27.74%15.67% 2704LINEAR %4.49%19.32% 3703Catalina Sky Survey %10.27%17.23% 4F51Pan-STARRS %25.15%13.84% 5691Spacewatch %23.53%4.96% 6E12Siding Spring Survey %6.52%5.22% 7D29Purple Mountain Obs %7.15%2.87% 8H15ISON-NM Observatory* %11.78%11.23% 9106Črni Vrh Observatory %4.16%2.35% 10291Spacewatch II %33.71%7.31% … 13A50Andrushivka Obs.* %7.55%0% * - ISON observatories 20

Observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts GRB is most powerful transient event in gamma-ray domain (up to 10^54 erg per few seconds). It is cosmological phenomenon (currently directly observed up to redshift z=9.4). However since its discovery more than 40 years ago, there is no detailed physical model of the phenomenon. The sources of the GRB can be: Rare type of Supernovae type Ib/ IcMerging compact relativistic binary system GRBs emit in wide energy bands, including optic

What is place of ISON in GRB observations? Small aperture telescopes (20 – 50 cm) are still valuable instruments for GRB investigation! Early and prompt optic observations after gamma-detection (e.g. GRB A in ISON-NM taken 70 s after burst trigger, GRB A taken 10 min after trigger in ISON-Milkovo Observatory) Detailed light curve of rare bright afterglows (e.g A taken in Kharkiv Observatory)

06:16:55 UT t-t 0,d — mag - [18.13m] exp — 30s Alert Observations of GRB A in ISON-NM Observatory

Conclusion ISON project clearly demonstrates benefits of international scientific collaboration in various aspects of optical observations. ISON promotes cooperation between observatories in developing nations and scientific organizations in industrialized countries. Joint efforts of BSSI and ISON on establishing of new telescope facilities and involvement of existing observatories will help to improve the overall level of research.