Ground-based Surveys and the AsteroidFinder Mission

Kurzfassung

An overview of the historical development of planet discoveries and minor planet surveys is presented, with a focus on presently active ground-based surveys, significant amateur contributions, and planned space-based surveys and NEO detection capabilities. A keystone in the near-future development of asteroid surveys is the DLR R&D AsteroidFinder mission planned to launch in late 2014, and intended to extend the area covered from the nighttime-accesible elongations >60° down towards 30° angular distance to the Sun, without north-south hemisphere bias. Abstract as given in the workshop programme: Surveys sol et mission AsteroidFinder