The OCA-DLR Asteroid Survey (ODAS) was a European scientific project to search for asteroids and comets. This project was the joint work of the Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA) in France and the Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) in Germany. They operated in cooperation with a global effort regarding Near-Earth objects that was begun by the Working Group on Near-Earth Objects, a component of the International Astronomical Union.
This project began October 1996 and ceased observations in April 1999 for a refurbishing. However the telescope has not been reopened since that time.
| New Near-Earth Asteroids Discovered by O.D.A.S. |
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Survey observations were made during the 15 days each month when moon light was at a minimum, during the first and last quarters of the lunar month. The operation used a 90cm Schmidt telescope located near Nice, France. A combination of a CCD camera and a software package were used for automated detection of moving objects.
Throughout its tenure, the project was responsible for the discovery of 708 asteroids and one new comet. Of these five were found to be near earth asteroids and 8 were Mars-crossing asteroids.
Famous quotes containing the word survey:
“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.”
—Isaac Watts (1674–1748)