Current projects

Currently I focus on astrometry and photometry of asteroids and comets.

Astrometry is measurement of the positions of objects in order to better refine their orbits. I try to focus on newly discovered objects or objects with poorly known orbits. For newly discovered objects it is very important to closely monitor their position for several days or weeks to calculate a sufficiently good orbit so they don't become "lost".

Photometry is the measurement of an objects brightness. When an asteroid is measured over enough time (usually several nights) it is possible to calculate a rotation period based on its varying brightness. This information can also be used to predict the shape, and is useful for radar observations and spacecraft missions. Comet photometry can be useful in helping predict the behavior of these "unpredictable" objects.