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A. Boattini (Universita di Roma Tor Vergata and INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), A. Di Paola (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), F. Bernardi (University of Hawaii, USA), F. De Luise (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), V. Casula, A. Giunta, D. Perna (Universita di Roma Tor Vergata and INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), N. Napoleone (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), A. Carusi (IASF Roma, Italy), E. Dotto (INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), G.B. Valsecchi (IASF Roma, Italy)
The CINEOS program (Campo Imperatore Near Earth Object Survey), started in 2001, is dedicated to the discovery and follow-up of Near Earth Objects, namely asteroids and comets which periodically approach or intersect the Earth's orbit.
In particular CINEOS is addressed to the discovery of Atens and Inner Earth Objects (IEOs) by extending survey coverage at small solar elongations, and to the discovery of the other kind of NEOs by observing with longer exposures (up to a limiting magnitude of 21) in the opposition region.
Since August 2001 we measured more than 61000 asteroid positions and discovered almost 1500 new objects, including 6 NEOs and 1 Centaur. As a matter of fact, in June-September 2003 CINEOS obtained a satisfying fifth place in the world for the number of discoveries (sixth place in the period June-August 2004) and has been the first Italian professional program to discover a NEO and an asteroid beyond the orbit of Jupiter.
The observing strategies and the obtained results will be presented and discussed.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.