SPACEWATCH® provides this data archive service to help eliminate impact solutions of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and Virtual Impactors (VIs). We understand that our data have many other uses outside PHA/VI work, but we also have limited resources to respond to requests. In using this service please understand that our responses follow a priority list:
- Researchers using our scans to eliminate the impact hazard for asteroids. (This is the ONLY request for which immediate turnaround can be expected).
- Needs by the professional community for precovery observations of other high-priority asteroids.
- Researchers working on non-asteroid problems for which our data may be of assistance.
- Small, well focused requests from the general public for the purpose of searching for a specific asteroid. Be advised, however, that requests to extend arcs of main belt asteroids are not a funded priority for us.
- Large and or numerous data requests cannot be entertained without a strong supporting argument for the request.
Note you are welcome to query the on-line pointing history database as much or as often as desired to determine if SPACEWATCH® has covered sky that may assist your work. Our restrictions apply only to requests for fits images or requests for existing astrometry on objects previously submitted to the MPC (e.g. arc extensions for designated objects).
Thank you for your understanding.