Deep Ecliptic Survey
The Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) is a project to find Kuiper belt objects (KBOs), using the facilities of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). The principal investigator is Robert L. Millis.
| Survey type | astronomical survey  |
|---|---|
| Started | 1998 |
| Ended | 2003 |
| 19521 Chaos | 19 November 1998 | list |
| 28978 Ixion | 22 May 2001 | list |
| 38083 Rhadamanthus | 17 April 1999 | list |
| (42301) 2001 UR163 | 21 October 2001 | list |
| 53311 Deucalion | 18 April 1999 | list |
| 54598 Bienor | 27 August 2000 | list |
| 88611 Teharonhiawako | 20 August 2001 | list |
| 148780 Altjira | 20 October 2001 | list |
| (361701) 2007 VZ171 | 24 November 2003 | list |
Since 1998 through the end of 2003, the survey covered 550 square degrees with sensitivity of 22.5, which means an estimated 50% of objects of this magnitude have been found.
The survey has also established the mean Kuiper Belt plane and introduced new formal definitions of the dynamical classes of Kuiper belt objects.[2]
The remarkable first observations and/or discoveries include:[3]
- 28978 Ixion, large plutino
- 19521 Chaos (cubewano)
- 1998 WW31, the first binary trans-Neptunian object (TNO)
- (148209) 2000 CR105, the first object with perihelion too far to be affected (scattered) by Neptune and a large semi-major axis
- (87269) 2000 OO67, remarkable for its semi-major axis of more than 500 AU and extreme eccentricity (0.96) taking the object from the inside of the Neptune's orbit to more than 1000 AU
- 2001 QR322, the first Neptune trojan
- 2002 XU93, with one of the most inclined orbits (>68°)
References
- "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- Elliot, J. L.; Kern, S. D.; Clancy, K. B.; Gulbis, A. A. S.; Millis, R. L.; Buie, M. W.; et al. (February 2005). "The Deep Ecliptic Survey: A Search for Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs. II. Dynamical Classification, the Kuiper Belt Plane, and the Core Population". The Astronomical Journal. 129 (2): 1117–1162. Bibcode:2005AJ....129.1117E. doi:10.1086/427395.
- Buie, M. W.; Millis, R. L.; Wasserman, L. H.; Elliot, J. L.; Kern, S. D.; Clancy, K. B.; et al. (June 2003). "Procedures, Resources and Selected Results of the Deep Ecliptic Survey". Earth, Moon, and Planets. 92 (1): 113–124. arXiv:astro-ph/0309251. Bibcode:2003EM&P...92..113B. doi:10.1023/B:MOON.0000031930.13823.be.
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