The first serious astronomical work we have engaged in at the Observatory is a program of asteroid astrometry and asteroid discovery. Prediction of future asteroid impacts with the earth. Prediction of occultations of stars by asteroids.
Occultations allow asteroid shapes and sizes to be determined.
Better understanding of the dynamics and formation of the solar system. Improved selection of and trajectories toward asteroids by space probes. This is a field where the Observatory can make a real contribution. We have been using the Observatory since May of 1998 to image asteroids. The images are made over a period of an hour to several hours.