The Deep Ecliptic Survey

Exploring the outer solar system in search of trans-Neptunian objects


DES Classifications of all Distant Objects

Support pages for continued astrometry


There are a number of names astronomers use to refer to these distant members of our solar system: Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO), Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt Objects (EKBO), or Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNO). All of these names refer to a collection of objects that have a semi-major axis for their orbit that is larger than the semi-major axis of Neptune's orbit. In other words, these are objects further from the Sun than Neptune.

We have begun a program of searching for these objects. Our program uses the Mosaic camera that NOAO built for use on the Mayall 4-m telescope on Kitt Peak. The first nights we had for this project were 1998 March 26-27 (UT) on the Mayall 4-m telescope. These two nights were completely wiped out by weather (clouds, fog, rain, snow, hail, wind, you name it, we saw it). Our first successful run was in October 1998. The following provides a summary of our search to date:

UT
Date
Telescope Weather Hours
Avail
Frac
Used
#
Found
#
Desig
Designated Objects
1998-03-26 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.0 22% 0 0  
1998-03-27 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.0 --- --- ---  
1998-10-21 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.0 25% 0 0  
1998-10-22 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.0 88% 2 2 91205, 1998UR43
1998-11-18 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 11.2 77% 10 10 69986, 69988, 69990, 181855, 1998WS31, 1998WV24, 1998WW31, 1998WX24, 1998WY31, 1998WZ24
1998-11-19 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 11.2 93% 4 4 19521, 69987, 1998WV31, 1998WZ31
1999-03-16 KPNO 4-m Clouds 9.2 82% 0 0  
1999-03-17 KPNO 4-m Clouds 9.2 38% 0 0  
1999-04-17 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 8.5 100% 8 8 38083, 118378, 129772, 1999HA12, 1999HD12, 1999HS11, 1999HY11, 1999HZ11
1999-04-18 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 8.5 100% 7 7 38084, 53311, 118379, 181874, 1999HG12, 1999HH12, 1999HJ12
2000-02-05 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 20 9 60454, 60458, 2000CL104, 2000CM104, 2000CN104, 2000CP105, 2000CY105, 2000CN114, 2000CO114
2000-02-06 KPNO 4-m Photometric 11.0 60% 18 7 80806, 148209, 2000CO104, 2000CK105, 2000CL105, 2000CS105, 2000CP114
2000-04-09 KPNO 4-m Overcast 8.5 --- --- ---  
2000-04-10 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 8.5 100% 11 0  
2000-07-28 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 8 5 87269, 134860, 138537, 160091, 2000OH67
2000-07-29 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 4 0  
2000-07-30 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 3 2 118702, 2000OP67
2000-07-31 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 2 0  
2000-08-24 CTIO 4-m Photometric 8.9 94% 14 3 87555, 138628, 2000QJ252
2000-08-25 CTIO 4-m Photometric 9.2 97% 8 1 2000QN251
2000-08-26 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.3 100% 7 1 54598
2000-08-27 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.2 100% 12 1 2000QO252
2000-09-19 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.0 52% 4 0  
2000-09-20 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.0 41% 1 0  
2000-09-21 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.0 78% 5 0  
2000-10-22 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.0 --- --- ---  
2000-10-23 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.0 --- --- ---  
2001-02-25 KPNO 4-m Clouds 9.8 10% 0 0  
2001-02-26 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.8 --- --- ---  
2001-03-25 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.3 100% 3 0  
2001-03-26 KPNO 4-m Photometric 9.1 100% 20 7 82157, 82158, 169071, 2001FL185, 2001FS185, 2001FT185, 2001FV185
2001-05-20 CTIO 4-m Variable clouds 11.3 25% 0 0  
2001-05-21 CTIO 4-m Photometric 11.8 96% 15 9 28978, 88267, 2001KF76, 2001KG76, 2001KH76, 2001KL76, 2001KM76, 2001KW76, 2001KY76
2001-05-22 CTIO 4-m Photometric 11.5 100% 22 11 88269, 119066, 119067, 119068, 119069, 119070, 135024, 160147, 306792, 2001KG77, 2001KO77
2001-05-23 CTIO 4-m Photometric 11.2 100% 21 9 88268, 160148, 182294, 2001KQ76, 2001KS76, 2001KZ76, 2001KA77, 2001KE77, 2001OQ108
2001-08-17 CTIO 4-m Overcast 10.6 --- --- ---  
2001-08-18 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.6 100% 9 2 139775, 2001QQ297
2001-08-19 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.7 100% 5 3 2001QS297, 2001QU297, 2001QV297
2001-08-20 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.3 95% 8 2 135182, 275809
2001-09-12 KPNO 4-m Photometric 8.8 72% 8 5 2001RL155, 2001RV143, 2001RW143, 2001RY143, 2002PD155
2001-09-13 KPNO 4-m Overcast 8.8 --- --- ---  
2001-09-14 KPNO 4-m Overcast 8.8 --- --- ---  
2001-10-19 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.6 52% 4 3 119473, 2001UN18, 2001UP18
2001-10-20 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.6 91% 0 0  
2001-10-21 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.6 100% 3 2 42301, 148780
2002-02-06 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.8 97% 16 15 126619, 2002CO154, 2002CP154, 2002CQ154, 2002CR154, 2002CS154, 2002CT154, 2002CU154, 2002CV154, 2002CW154, 2002CY154, 2002CZ154, 2002CZ248, 2002CA249, 2002CC251
2002-02-07 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.5 97% 2 1 2002CB225
2002-02-08 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.5 100% 14 6 119878, 126719, 2002CA225, 2002CB249, 2002CD251, 2002CE251
2002-03-18 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 8.7 77% 5 2 2002FW36, 2002FX36
2002-03-19 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.0 --- --- ---  
2002-03-20 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 9.0 92% 3 1 2002FY36
2002-04-05 CTIO 4-m Photometric 9.9 100% 8 8 182933, 2002GW31, 2002GX31, 2002GY31, 2002GL32, 2002GM32, 2002GN32, 2002GO32
2002-04-06 CTIO 4-m Photometric 9.9 100% 5 5 2002GA32, 2002GB32, 2002GC32, 2002GQ32, 2002GR32
2002-04-07 CTIO 4-m Photometric 9.8 100% 5 1 2002GE32
2002-04-08 CTIO 4-m Photometric 9.8 100% 12 10 95625, 135571, 182934, 2002GK32, 2002GS32, 2002GT32, 2002GU32, 2002GW32, 2002GH166, 2002GJ166
2002-08-08 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.5 100% 0 0  
2002-08-09 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.5 100% 1 1 2002PN147
2002-08-10 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.5 100% 2 2 119956, 160256
2002-08-11 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.4 100% 14 12 2002PP149, 2002PE149, 2002PF149, 2002PG150, 2002PH149, 2002PJ149, 2002PK149, 2002PN149, 2002PO149, 2002PQ149, 2002PQ152, 2002PE155
2002-11-07 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.3 100% 19 14 119976, 149348, 307463, 2002VE130, 2002VF130, 2002VV130, 2002VW130, 2002VX130, 2002VY130, 2002VB131, 2002VC131, 2002VD131, 2002VE131, 2002VF131
2002-11-08 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.3 22% 0 0  
2002-11-09 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.3 42% 6 4 149349, 2002VZ130, 2002VG131, 2002VD138
2002-12-04 KPNO 4-m Photometric 5.6 86% 9 6 127546, 2002XD91, 2002XE91, 2002XF91, 2002XG91, 2002XP114
2002-12-05 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.8 75% 2 1 2002XJ91
2002-12-06 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 10.8 89% 0 0  
2002-12-07 KPNO 4-m Variable clouds 5.2 100% 3 0  
2003-03-01 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.8 --- --- ---  
2003-03-02 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.8 --- --- ---  
2003-03-03 KPNO 4-m Iced Shut 9.8 --- --- ---  
2003-03-30 KPNO 4-m Photometric 8.8 94% 4 4 133067, 2003FH127, 2003FJ127, 2003FH129
2003-03-31 KPNO 4-m Photometric 8.8 100% 1 1 2003FD128
2003-04-01 KPNO 4-m Photometric 8.8 100% 6 5 127871, 2003FL127, 2003FM127, 2003GM53, 2003GF55
2003-05-30 CTIO 4-m Thin Cirrus 10.8 100% 5 3 2003KO20, 2003KP20, 2003KQ20
2003-05-31 CTIO 4-m Thin Cirrus 10.8 100% 0 0  
2003-06-01 CTIO 4-m Clear 10.8 100% 1 1 2003LD9
2003-06-02 CTIO 4-m Variable Clouds 10.8 58% 8 8 136120, 2003LZ6, 2003LA7, 2003LC7, 2003LD7, 2003LE7, 2003LF7, 2003LH7
2003-08-23 CTIO 4m Clearing 10.1 50% 7 5 2003QT90, 2003QD91, 2003QE91, 2003QF91, 2003QW91
2003-08-24 CTIO 4m Photometric 10.1 100% 12 10 149560, 2003QU90, 2003QX90, 2003QY90, 2003QG91, 2003QP91, 2003QV91, 2003QX91, 2003QY91, 2003QC112
2003-08-25 CTIO 4m Photometric 10.1 100% 5 5 307616, 2003QZ90, 2003QJ91, 2003QN91, 2003QS91
2003-08-26 CTIO 4m Photometric 10.0 100% 10 7 2003QC91, 2003QL91, 2003QM91, 2003QU91, 2003QB112, 2003QD112, 2003QE112
2003-10-22 KPNO 4m Photometric 10.1 100% 5 0  
2003-10-23 KPNO 4m Photometric 10.1 100% 9 8 2003UU291, 2003UW291, 2003UX291, 2003UC292, 2003UG292, 2003UP292, 2003UX292, 2003UY292
2003-10-24 KPNO 4m Photometric 10.1 100% 8 6 120181, 2003UK292, 2003UL292, 2003UM292, 2003UU292, 2003UZ292
2003-11-20 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.8 100% 12 4 2003WS184, 2003WQ188, 2003WS188, 2003UK293
2003-11-21 KPNO 4-m Photometric 10.8 100% 15 0  
2003-11-22 KPNO 4m Variable 10.8 37% 2 0  
2003-11-23 KPNO 4m Photometric 10.8 100% 1 1 2003WA191
2003-11-24 KPNO 4m Photometric 10.8 100% 3 0  
2004-02-26 KPNO 4-m Photometric (mostly) 9.9 100% 10 7 183963, 183964, 2004DH64, 2004DK64, 2004DL64, 2004DM64, 2004DN64
2004-02-27 KPNO 4-m Variable Clouds 9.9 95% 5 5 2004DK71, 2004DL71, 2004DM71, 2004DF77, 2004DG77
2004-02-28 KPNO 4-m Overcast 9.9 --- --- ---  
2004-03-14 KPNO 4-m Variable Clouds 9.4 --- --- ---  
2004-03-15 KPNO 4-m Photometric 9.3 97% 7 3 2004EG96, 2004EO95, 2004EP95
2004-03-16 KPNO 4-m Photometric 9.3 100% 13 6 2004EJ96, 2004EQ95, 2004ER95, 2004ES95, 2004ET95, 2004EV95
2004-07-13 CTIO 4-m Overcast 10.8 --- --- ---  
2004-07-14 CTIO 4-m Mostly Cloudy 10.8 23% 0 0  
2004-07-15 CTIO 4-m Clear 10.8 91% 10 1 2004OL12
2004-07-16 CTIO 4-m Mostly Clear 10.8 100% 7 2 2004OJ14, 2004OL14
2004-08-12 CTIO 4-m Thin clouds 10.4 97% 16 2 2004PY111, 2004PZ111
2004-08-13 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.3 90% 8 6 184212, 2004PS107, 2004PU107, 2004PC112, 2004PD112, 2004PE112
2004-08-14 CTIO 4-m Photometric 10.3 92% 4 3 2004PV107, 2004PX107, 2004PF112
2004-08-15 CTIO 4-m Thin clouds 10.3 97% 2 2 2004PZ107, 2004PB108
2004-10-15 KPNO 4-m Mostly Clear 9.9 100% 13 5 2004TB358, 2004TE282, 2004TU357, 2004TW357, 2004TX357
2004-10-16 KPNO 4-m Variable 9.9 34% 0 0  
2004-10-17 KPNO 4-m Mostly Cloudy 9.9 5% 0 0  
2004-10-18 KPNO 4-m Variable 9.9 35% 6 3 2004UD10, 2004UE10, 2004UF10
2004-11-09 KPNO 4-m Variable 10.5 69% 4 4 2004VV75, 2004VW75, 2004VX75, 2004VY75
2004-11-10 KPNO 4-m Variable 10.6 91% 2 2 2004VU75, 2004VZ75
2004-11-11 KPNO 4-m Variable 10.6 95% 13 5 2004VK78, 2004VL78, 2004VM78, 2004VN78, 2004VA76
2004-11-12 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.6 --- --- ---  
2004-11-13 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.6 --- --- ---  
2004-11-14 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.6 --- --- ---  
2004-11-15 KPNO 4-m Overcast 10.6 --- --- ---  
2005-03-09 KPNO 4-m Mostly Clear 9.6 74% 5 4 2005EE296, 2005EO296, 2005EP296, 2005EB318
2005-03-10 KPNO 4-m Photometric 9.5 74% 1 0  
2005-03-11 KPNO 4-m Photometric 9.5 100% 8 4 184314, 2005EK298, 2005EM303, 2005EC318
2005-03-12 KPNO 4-m Mostly Clear 9.5 76% 6 4 2005ED300, 2005EJ300, 2005EF304, 2005EH305
2005-04-10 KPNO 4-m Photometric 6.9 93% 3 3 2005GW186, 2005GY186, 2005GZ186
2005-04-11 KPNO 4-m Photometric 8.4 100% 5 3 2005GX186, 2005GA187, 2005GC187
2005-04-12 KPNO 4-m Mostly Clear 8.3 100% 6 4 2005GD187, 2005GF187, 2005GV210, 2005GW210
2005-04-13 KPNO 4-m Variable 8.3 45% 0 0  
2005-05-08 CTIO 4-m Overcast 10.5 --- --- ---  
2005-05-09 CTIO 4-m Variable 10.5 40% 0 0  
2005-05-10 CTIO 4-m Variable 10.5 57% 1 1 2005JZ174
2005-05-11 CTIO 4-m Variable 10.6 62% 2 0  

So far this project has been allocated a total of 125 nights on the Kitt Peak or Cerro Tololo 4-m telescopes. The total available time from those nights was 1241.3 hours. Of this possible time we were able to use 868.5 hours (70%). The rest of the time was lost to either weather (27%) or equipment failure (3%).

The total number of interesting objects discovered so far is 663. Of these, 349 have received designations from the Minor Planet Center. The goal of this project is to increase the number of objects will well known orbits. Of our designated objects 349 have very well determined orbits. 13 have moderately well known orbits and 132 have poorly known orbits.

The photometric calibration observations have been completed. There are old status pages for that effort that may still be of some use. The photometric catalog has been accepted for publication in ApJS as of April 2011.

Information based on data as of 2024/10/06 12:15:40 UT


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Table generated Sun Oct 6 12:15:44 2024 UTC

Marc W. Buie, Southwest Research Institute