Keck Observations of Solar System Objects: Perspectives for Extremely Large Telescopes

• Published in: Earth, moon, and planets Vol. 105; no. 2-4; pp. 115 - 122
• Main Authors: Conrad, A. R., Goodrich, R. W., Campbell, R. D., Merline, W. J., Drummond, J. D., Dumas, C., Carry, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.09.2009; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Adaptive optics; Asteroids; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Deep Impact Mission (NASA); Extremely large telescopes; Impact prediction; Jupiter; Laser guide stars; Lasers; Near-Earth Objects; Observations and Techniques; Optics; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Pluto; Pluto satellites; Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet; Solar system; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Spectrum analysis; Telescopes; Tracking techniques; Volcanoes; ELT; Keck
• ISSN: 0167-9295; 1573-0794
• DOI: 10.1007/s11038-009-9320-0

From differential tracking techniques, required for appulse observations of KBOs with Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGSAO), to developing methods for collecting spectra at the precise moment of a predicted impact, each Solar System observation conducted on a large telescope presents a unique set of challenges. We present operational details and some key science results from our science program, adaptive optics observations of main belt asteroids and near earth objects ; as well as the technical and operational details of several Keck Solar System observations conducted by other teams: the impact of Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter, volcanoes on Io, the Deep Impact mission to Comet 9P/Tempel 1, and recent observations of Pluto’s moons Nix and Hydra. For each of these observations, we draw from our Keck experience to predict what challenges may lie ahead when similar observations are conducted on next generation telescopes.