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Near Earth Objects (NEOs)

Course 0000001990 in SS 2016

General Data

Course Type lecture
Semester Weekly Hours 2 SWS
Organisational Unit Chair of Astronautics (Prof. Walter)
Lecturers
Dates Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 0234
and 1 singular or moved dates

Assignment to Modules

Further Information

Courses are together with exams the building blocks for modules. Please keep in mind that information on the contents, learning outcomes and, especially examination conditions are given on the module level only – see section "Assignment to Modules" above.

additional remarks Basic theories, methods and tools: Detection, tracking, cataloging and characterization of near earth objects Methods and technologies: Mitigation of danger, findings, contact, diversion, destruction Tools for the simulation and analysis of time, cost and risk in NO project Engineering Data and Information sources: National and International Agencies like DLR, NASA, ESA; Institutions like Universities, Observatories ,Amateur Groups like NEAT. The lecture will be held in English. 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION (2 HOURS) 2 FROM OBSERVATIONS TO MEASUREMENTS (2 HOURS) - Which instrumentation is used for observing asteroids – ground-based telescopes, space-based telescopes, radar - Instrumentation: CCD cameras, filters, spectroscopy, delay-doppler radar technique - ‘Groups’ of observations – survey, follow-up, and physical characterization - Example position determination: How to compute the sensitivity of a telescope, sky coverage – physics of the computations (size, distance, optical properties of asteroids + technical properties of telescope and detector => no. of electrons on sensor, Signal-to-Noise ratio) - How to determine the position of an asteroid from the image (existing software – computational background: ‘plate constants’ to correct for image distortions) - Who is doing this today? 3 ORBIT DETERMINATION AND FIRST IMPACT WARNING (4 HOURS) - How to convert the celestial coordinates of the asteroid positions to an orbit (coordinate transformations needed, fit Kepler ellipse to observations as starting point) – mathematical background, simple example - Non-gravitational forces and their effects, physical and mathematical background - Metrics for the impact risk – the Palermo Scale - Definition of ‘keyholes’ during close fly-bys and their importance - The generation of impact warnings – go/no-go point for acquiring more information - Show examples of existing systems of orbit computation centers – NEODyS (Univ. Pisa), Sentry, Horizons (JPL/NASA) 4 ASTEROID PHYSICAL PROPERTIES DETERMINATION (4 HOURS) - Which physical parameters exist and what is their relevance? - How can they be measured (link to section 2, telescopes/radars, spectroscopy) - Spectral classification, polarimetric measurements - Space mission results - What is the possible accuracy for the measurements and their effect on any impact risk assessments - Show examples of existing systems 5 IMPACT EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES (2 HOURS) - Physics of atmospheric entry - Atmospheric explosions and their effects, physical background - Cratering effects, physical background - Classification of impact effects (local, regional, global consequences) - Presentation of existing tools and assessment of their accuracy - Link to current activities on crisis and disaster management 6 MITIGATION – AVOIDING AN IMPACT (4 HOURS) - Redoing the impact assessment to generate the ‘final warning’ - Introduction to the currently envisaged political decision process - Link to previous lecture – activities related to crisis and disaster management (evacuation) - Space missions for mitigation – classification, technology readiness - Provide some basic mission analysis knowledge to assess the feasibility of a mitigation mission - ESA’s Don Quijote mission as a study – redo some computations 7 ‘WAR GAME’: WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN IMMINENT IMPACT THREAT? (2 HOURS) 8 THE NEO DECISION PROCESS AS A SYSTEM (OF SYSTEMS) (2 HOURS) 9 SUMMARY (2 HOURS)
Links Course documents
E-Learning course (e. g. Moodle)
TUMonline entry

Equivalent Courses (e. g. in other semesters)

SemesterTitleLecturersDates
SS 2024 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Frühauf, M. Koschny, D. Reiß, P. Fri, 12:30–14:00, 012
SS 2023 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Frühauf, M. Koschny, D. Reiß, P. Fri, 12:30–14:00, 012
SS 2022 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Frühauf, M. Koschny, D. Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 2050
SS 2021 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Frühauf, M. Grill, L. Koschny, D. Fri, 12:30–14:00, virtuell
SS 2020 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Grill, L. Koschny, D. Fri, 12:30–14:00, virtuell
and singular or moved dates
SS 2019 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Grill, L. Koschny, D. Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 2050
SS 2018 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 2050
SS 2017 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 0234
Fri, 12:30–14:00, MW 2050
SS 2015 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Fri, 12:15–14:15, MW 0234
and singular or moved dates
SS 2014 Near Earth Objects (NEOs) Fri, 12:00–14:00, MW 0234
and singular or moved dates
SS 2013 Near Earth Objects (NEOs)
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