Armagh students publish asteroid and comet observations

In early February, 4 lower sixth formers from Northern Ireland spent a week on  work experience at Armagh Observatory, learning about astronomy and using the Faulkes Telescopes to image Near Earth Objects.

Working with Dr David Asher, the students obtained observations and measurements of the positions of 6 Near Earth Asteroids, as well as those of an object originally designated to be a Near Earth Object  but which turned out to be a comet at 5AU! This result earned the students their names on a Minor Planet Electronic Circular, or MPEC (a research notice reporting urgent results of Near Earth Objects sent out to the astronomical community), an amazing achievement for a week's work experience!

The student's report on their week at Armagh Oservatory and telescope observations, along with their animation of the comet (also shown below here), can be found at: http://star.arm.ac.uk/~dja/faulkes/2012feb.html