Fred Alke and the Faulkes Telescopes

Written by Michael Weiermann

Figure 1 – Fred Alke a Student at Gymnasium Nepomecenum in Germany

Much more happens in the sky every night than one might suspect with the naked eye. For instance, numerous automated observation programmes (e.g. Pan-STARRS on Hawaii’s Haleakala or the space-based WISE) continuously scan the sky for previously unknown objects that are potentially very close to Earth or even on a collision course.

The data obtained worldwide is then collected at the Minor Planet Center (MPC), and other observers are called upon to confirm the new discoveries and make supplementary measurements to predict the future orbit of such objects as accurately as possible.

With the help of the Faulkes telescopes, it is possible for students to participate in this process and do real science. This is what Fred Alke (Figure 1) from the Oberstufe (corresponds to sixth form) of the Gymnasium Nepomucenum (Coesfeld, Germany) did in the context of a research project. In order to plan his observations, he first had to clarify which candidates from the MPC catalogue of objects currently in need of confirmation could be observed at all during his respective RTI (real-time interface) slots. This depends not only on the predicted position in the sky, but also on an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio: many of these objects move quite quickly and are relatively faint, which makes observation a challenge.

As a second step, Fred then analysed the obtained images. The usual procedure is as follows: first, with the help of suitable software, these images have to be aligned using the known positions of the stars they are containing. Then one can determine the position of the object of interest with a high degree of precision. After having done so, these measurements were transmitted by Fred to the MPC in a predefined format.

This way, Fred succeeded, among other things, in confirming the position of a new object, which has now been designated 2022 BJ6 and which turned out to be a Mars-crosser (an asteroid with an orbit that crosses Mars’ orbital path). One of the other objects he measured subsequently turned out to be the rediscovery of the already known main belt asteroid 2009 CH53. Fred’s measurements are published in the MPC’s official scientific publication, the Minor Planet Circulars.

Figure 2 – 2009 CH53 in front of the background of fixed stars at 2022-02-09, 15:43-15:52 UT. Composed of 8 FTN-images, each with 50s exposure time. The FOV is 2’x2′.

Another example vividly demonstrates that these activities have scientific relevance indeed: Fred’s attempt to observe the object 2022 CO6 failed at the position initially predicted. However, this prediction was based on only three WISE observations with an arc of a few minutes – no wonder that the orbital uncertainties were then still quite large. A few days later, after further observations of the object had been done, with the help of the updated ephemeris it turned out that at the time of observation it was probably just outside the field of view, which at about 9’x9′ is not too large with the Faulkes telescopes.

Figure 3 – Red arrow: predicted position of 2022 CO6 at 2022-02-10, 11:48:21 UT, using an observation arc of a few minutes. Blue arrow: subsequently predicted position of 2022 CO6 at that same time, taking into account further observations. The image shows a FOV of approximately 9’x9′

All in all, it can be said that the use of the Faulkes telescopes provides students with the possibility to work on authentic science, which definitely creates impressive experiences for them.

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