Jornada
Observatory
IAU code 715
N32o
23' W106o 43' Alt. 1336 Meters
Jornada's Observatory code was assigned by the MPC on 31 Oct.
1998. The initial observation program was focused on main belt object follow
up. In early 2000 an increased awareness of the role of impact events on the
history of the earth, and the need for observations of NEOs at magnitudes
greater that 20V lead to a change in focus to NEO observation. Jornada
observatory is beginning an astrometry program focused on recovery and follow
up of NEOs. Priority is the recovery of multiple and single opposition NEOs
which will exceed magnitude 21.0 but don’t exceed magnitude 19.0 during the
opposition, and follow-up of newly discovered NEOs that are in the 19V to 21V
brightness range and getting dimmer. The NEOs that are expected to become
brighter than magnitude 19.0 during the opposition will be considered second
priority targets since there is a reasonable expectancy of recovery by the
professional surveys during their normal search work.
The two scopes pictured in the new permanent observatory location
can be utilized in several different combinations depending on the requirements
of the objects targeted. Each scope can target individual objects, or they can
be used in tandem to conduct the recovery search for an object over a wider
area, or they can image the same area of the sky simultaneously and the images
added to increase the sensitivity.
Jornada Observatory Discoveries
Jornada Observatory is supported with instrumentation provided by
The Planetary Society Shoemaker NEO Grant Program of 2000
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