Siding Spring Survey

This article is about the near-Earth object search program. For other uses, see Siding Spring.

Siding Spring Survey
Alternative namesSSS Edit this on Wikidata
Named afterSiding Spring Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
OrganizationUniversity of Arizona, Australian National University
Observatory code E12 Edit this on Wikidata
LocationSiding Spring Observatory, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates31°18′S 149°06′E / 31.3°S 149.1°E / -31.3; 149.1
Altitude1,150 m
Established2004
Closed2013
WebsiteOfficial website
Telescopes
Uppsala Southern Schmidt TelescopeSchmidt telescope
Siding Spring Survey is located in Australia
Siding Spring Survey
Location of Siding Spring Survey
[edit on Wikidata]
Minor planets discovered: 2758 [1]
see § List of discovered minor planets

The Siding Spring Survey (SSS) was a near-Earth object search program that used the 0.5-metre Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, New South Wales, Australia. It was the southern hemisphere counterpart of the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) located in the Santa Catalina Mountains on Mount Bigelow, near Tucson, Arizona, USA. The survey was the only professional search for dangerous asteroids being made in the Southern Hemisphere.

SSS was jointly operated by the University of Arizona and the Australian National University, with funding from NASA. SSS (IAU observatory code E12) was located at Siding Spring Observatory (IAU observatory code 413) at 31°18′S 149°06′E / 31.3°S 149.1°E / -31.3; 149.1, approximately 400 km (250 mi) north-west of Sydney at an altitude of about 1,150 metres (3,770 ft).

Images of 30 seconds' exposure time were collected using a 4×4K charge-coupled device at intervals and then compared with software.[2]

The survey ended in July 2013 after funding was discontinued.[3][4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPC-Discoverers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference wonw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Safi, Michael (20 October 2014). "Earth at risk after cuts close comet-spotting program, scientists warn". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. ^ Winder, Jenny (5 November 2014). "Comet Hunters Warn of Threat to Siding Spring Observatory". SEN TV Limited. Retrieved 27 November 2015.