Optimizing Near-Earth Asteroid Observation Strategies for the SEJONG Telescope at CTIO
The Save Earth Joint Observations for the Next Generation (SEJONG) telescope represents South Korea’s first dedicated facility for asteroid surveillance and is scheduled for installation at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) in Chile by early 2027. Equipped with a 1.55-meter aperture and a wide 2.24° × 2.24° field of view, SEJONG is designed to proactively detect near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs), thereby strengthening global planetary defense capabilities.
To ensure effective operation, we aim to develop optimized observation strategies tailored to early threat detection. Using Granvik’s near-Earth asteroid population model, we analyze the sky-plane distribution and orbital characteristics of yet-undiscovered NEAs. This analysis helps identify favorable regions and times for detection.
Based on these results, we propose survey strategies for SEJONG that maximize its capability to discover hazardous objects. This work lays a foundation for SEJONG’s operations and contributes to international efforts to mitigate asteroid impact risks.