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Discovering Asteroids as an Amateur Astronomer
After a suggestion by Lindon that I start a thread on how to discover asteroids by yourself, I'll give it a quick rundown.
A few years ago, I came across a series of articles by Norman Falla, giving an overview on how you can discover asteroids, comets, TNO, NEO etc. using your home computer and a remote telescope.
It wasn't an actual 'how to' guide though, more of a theoretical explanation of the process. So I spent about a year nutting it out and produced a step by step guide on how to do it. I currently have the provisional discoveries listed on my signature.
In a nutshell, what you need:
- A home PC/laptop with internet connection
- Various software packages, (Astrometrica is a must)
- Total time about 50 hours spread over a few months.
- Total cost about $1000 (it cost me more than that, mostly because of mistakes made along the way)
- Patience. You'll be emulating Clyde Tombaugh, looking at countless images of blink photometry.
If anyone wants a copy, please PM me and I will send it to you.
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