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Killer Asteroid Project - Near Earth Object
The Astronomical Research Institute and the Astronomical Research Observatory is a not for profit research organization geared toward education in the field of near earth objects and near earth object observations. Operating under NASA's Near Earth Object Observation Program, ARO will image NEO's every clear night for students world-wide including near earth asteroids and comets. ARO reports all observations of near earth objects to the Minor Planet Center under Observatory Code H55 using the 0.81m telescope ( 32 inch telescope ) and 0.61m telescope ( 24 inch telescope ) at the Astronomical Research Observatory. Reports to the MPC are published in the Minor Planet Electronic Circulars ( MPEC's ) and at the NEODyS or NEO Dynamics site at the University of Pisa in Italy. Observatory Code H55 observations are located at this NEO website.
Observations of NEA's ( near earth asteroids ) are important to the astronomical community to determine the potential earth impact hazard these asteroids impose. Our goal is to make as many observations of NEOs as possible to help determine the orbits of NEA's to realistically understand the virtual impactor status of these near earth objects.
Near Earth Asteroids, near earth objects and NEOs are not our only area of research. Observations for the Yerkes Observatory and University of Chicago in Active Galactic Nucluei ( AGN ) research is another area we make observations in as time permits. We also conduct narrow-passband observations of planetary nebulae in assocation with Dr. You-Hua Chu at the University of Illinois.
near earth object
