Overview
The Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) is an astronomical survey and observing program aimed at discovering and tracking trans-Neptunian objects located in the outermost regions of the Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune. OSSOS is designed in way that observational biases can be characterized, allowing the numbers and orbits of detected objects to be compared using a survey simulator to the populations predicted in dynamical simulations of the emplacement of trans-Neptunian objects. Conducted at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope at Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii, the survey has discovered 39 numbered objects as of 2018, with potentially hundreds more to follow. The survey's first numbered discovery was the object in 2013.
Description
OSSOS observed eight blocks of the sky over a period of five years from 2013–2017 using the MegaPrime camera of the 3.6-meter Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Images of these blocks were taken near opposition (when the block is near opposite the sun), two months before, and two months after. Analysis of the size distribution of the scattering population revealed a break in its slope. Extreme trans-Neptunian objects (eTNOs) have been found including one with a semi-major axis of 730 AU, , Closer to the Sun, 20 centaurs were found, none of which were active. The number of centaurs detected and their inclinantion distribution were consistent with a model of the early Solar System that included a slow, long range migration of Neptune. 65 of the smaller objects discovered by OSSOS were later observed using the Subaru telescope to determine the variability of their brightness.
Operating in conjunction with OSSOS is the Colours of the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (Col-OSSOS). Col-OSSOS observes OSSOS objects with red magnitudes brighter than 23.5 simultaneously using the Gemini-North and Canada-France-Hawaii telescopes. The inclination distributions were found to vary with color, with the red objects having lower inclinations. The Col-OSSOS team has also measured the color and light curve of ʻOumuamua.
Core members
The core members of the Outer Solar System Origin Survey are: * Brett J. Gladman – co-principal investigator, orbit analysis * John J. Kavelaars – co-principal investigator, data, discovery * Jean-Marc Petit – co-principal investigator, orbit analysis, survey simulator * Michele Bannister – data, discovery, telescope operations, (see ) * Stephen Gwyn – astrometric catalogue, (see ) * Kat Volk – orbit classification * Ying-Tung (Charles) Chen – data analysis * Mike Alexandersen – survey cadence & design
Collaborators
Collaborators of the Outer Solar System Origin Survey are: * Andrew C. Becker * Susan D. Benecchi (née Kern) * Federica Bianco * Steven Bickerton * Ramon Brasser * Audrey C. Delsanti * Wesley Fraser * Mikael Granvik * Will Grundy * Aurelie Guilbert-Lepoutre * Amanda Sickafoose Gulbis * Daniel Hestroffer * Wing Ip * Marian Jakubik * Lynne Jones * Nathan Kaib * Pavlo Korsun * Simon Krughoff * Irina Kulyk * Pedro Lacerda * Sam Lawler * Matthew Lehner * Edward Lin * Tim Lister * Patryk Lykawka * Ruth Murray-Clay * Keith Noll * Alex Parker * Nuno Peixinho * Rosemary Pike * Philippe Rousselot * Megan Schwamb * Cory Shankman * Bruno Sicardy * Scott Tremaine * Pierre Vernazza (see ) * Shiang-Yu Wang
See also
* * List of trans-Neptunian objects
External links
* Outer Solar System Origins Survey, website * , SETI Talks, Michele Bannister * Michele Bannister, at the Astronomy Research Centre (ARC)