Title:

A Lunar Asteroid Survey

Abstract:

The Near- Asteroid (NEA) population is important to study as asteroids are the leftover remnants from the early era of the , and can therefore provide clues about the early days of Earth no longer present on the planet due to geological processes. This population is also important to know and understand on a planetary defense perspective, as a collision with an asteroid could be catastrophic to civilization on Earth. This project focuses on surveying the sky for a specific type of NEA that could be a great potential for further scientific research. We are surveying along the Moon's orbit for asteroids that are co-orbital with the Moon. These would be referred to as Lunar Trojans, and no asteroid of this type has been discovered to date. The last survey dedicated to these types of asteroids was conducted 38 years ago (Valdes & Freitas Jr., 1983) and no candidates were found. A study by Lissauer and Chambers (2008), found with numerical integration's, orbits $\pm 60^{\circ}$ from the Moon (Earth–Moon L4 and L5 Lagrange points respectively), can survive for several million years, even when solar and planetary perturbations are included. Through previous work of Dr. Paul Wiegert and I, it was determined that smaller more accessible telescopes on the iTelescope network can be remotely used to significantly contribute to sky surveys. This project uses these telescopes to conduct a routine survey in search of Lunar Trojan asteroids. While searching for Lunar Trojans, the survey will also be sensitive to other fast- moving objects, allowing for the possibility of observing Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). If any object is seen that is not documented, information will be submitted to the Center. This project has already demonstrated its effectiveness at NEA discovery by the detection of asteroid ALA2xH. This 50- 100 meter asteroid was discovered on November $18^{th}$, 2020, during our process of surveying the Moon's orbit for Lunar trojans.