TRUE VS.

FALSE SIGNATURES
I. INTRODUCTION

An important key to a successful asteroid search campaign is being able to identify true and false signatures for moving objects. Not all objects that appear to move in the image sets are asteroids. Students must know the difference and only measure the asteroids (the true signatures), and not the false signatures. For an object to be accepted as a true signature the object has three characteristics: Moves along a straight line Moves at constant speed Magnitude is fairly constant

A simple test for your students to use is to place the edge of a ruler along the path of the moving object to check if the motion is along a straight line. If not, then the object is a false signature and should not be measured and included in the MPC report.

II.

AUTOMATED SEARCH

When you conduct an automated search the following screen will pop up for each moving object found. You must determine if each object is a true or false signature.

Number of objects found. This is the first out of 12.

Object moving in a straight line White dots should be close to the red line.

Magnitude should remain constant for the asteroid

SNR should be greater than 5

Name of known asteroid. ? here means it is a possible unknown asteroid

Note: This object is accepted as a true signature. It is actually the known asteroid (21348) 1997 EM25.

EXAMPLES OF FALSE SIGNATURES 1. False Signature Must not be included in the MPC report.

This object is rejected because the white dots are scattered away from the red lines.

This object is also rejected because the SNR is less than 5.

This object is also rejected because the magnitude fluctuates by more than 1.

2. . False Signature Must not be included in the MPC report.

This is saturation from a bright star. Never measure and report saturated objects.

III.

NOISY IMAGE SETS

On occasion an image set will have a lot of background noise. When this happens the automated search will give as many as 200 moving objects. When you get more than 30 or so moving objects in an automated search, you should skip the automated search and go directly to the manual search. Also, remember just because something shows up on an automated search does not mean that you should report it. Each object that shows up on an automated search must be examined carefully to determine if it is a true signature or false signature. Never measure and include a false signature in the MPC report. IV. MANUAL SEARCH The Automated Moving Object Utility can miss moving objects, especially the fainter objects. After completing the automated search, always follow up with a manual search. Use the same criteria for identifying asteroids as in the automated search. Select Known Object Overlay on the menu bar, then select the Blink Utility and zoom in twice to enlarge the image. Visually scan the blinking image for moving objects not already found in the Moving Object Utility (Automated Search). MPC designations and apparent magnitudes marked by Red Circles indicate the known or unknown asteroids previously measured in the automated search.

MPC designations and apparent magnitudes marked by Red Boxes will be known or unknown asteroids not measured in the automated search. These objects and any other found objects without a circle or box will have to be manually measured. Never, never click on an empty moving red box. Only click on a red box when there is an asteroid inside it.

V. MANUAL MEASUREMENT Select Stop Blinker on the menu bar when an unmeasured moving object is detected. Begin by forwarding to the number 1 image, by clicking on the Forward or Back button. Center the object with the cross-hair and click on the object. Click on Object Designation and check for an object close to 0.00 in declination and right ascension, then select that object and click OK then click Accept. If there is not an object close then give the object a name by typing in 3 initials of your school and a 4 number designation.

Repeat the procedure for image 2 and 3. By forwarding to Image 2 and then to Image 3, repeating the same procedure as with Image 1. Continue searching the image until all asteroids have been measured.

VI. TRUE SIGNATURE EXAMPLES The following images show examples of true signatures (asteroids). They can vary in shape, size and brightness. The asteroids will be moving in a straight line, with constant speed and its magnitude will not change greatly. The edges will be rounded and the object will be darker at the center.