INTERNATIONAL ASTERIOD DISCOVERY
PROJECT (IADP)
Asteroids have been a part of our solar system for million years and are said to be remnants of celestial objects. Asteroids are often termed as minor planets or Planetoids. These space rocks can give scientists lots of information about the formation of the universe. There are several hundred thousand asteroids yet to be discovered. Asteroids within a close proximity to Earth are called Near-Earth Objects, or NEOs.
To understand about asteroids, their hazardous impacts, and to educate students across the globe, space agencies have been organising outreach programs.
These programs promote awareness, provide knowledge and help discover asteroids. These programs also help participants to learn about the possibility of asteroid impact and its effect on human civilization.
We welcome the students to join us and participate in the International Asteroid Discovery Project (IADP) organised by STEM & Space in collaboration with International Astronomy Search Collaboration’ (IASC), Pan-STARRS and NASA’s Citizen Science Project.
HAPPY HUNTING!
Organising Partners
The International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) is NASA’s citizen science campaign. It is an online program where school students make original Main Belt Asteroid discoveries and important Near Earth Object observations.
Pan-STARRS: Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System for wide-field astronomical imaging. It is the largest single research project at the Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii. Funded by NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation Program, it is currently employed to hunt and track potentially dangerous space objects.
In Collaboration with
NASA has been instrumental in conducting various outreach programs for detecting asteroids.
NASA’s Near Earth Object Program was established in 1998 and it sponsors projects that make use of telescopes around the world to search for NEOs, track them across the sky to determine their orbits, and gain information on their sizes, shapes, and composition.
ROLE OF STEM & SPACE AS A MENTOR
- High quality content created by STEM & Space team
- Software training on asteroid detection
- Trouble shooting
Performance at a glance - Year 2020
Teams
Students
Preliminary Discoveries
Provisional Discoveries
Provisional Discoveres for - Year 2020
Project Outcomes
The background about asteroids and how to detect and prevent their impact.
Effective ways to use the Astrometrica software
Data Analysis
&
Data Visualization
International recognition
from
IASC & NASA
IADP Campaign Dates
5th
April
to
30th
April
Seats Available – 100 ( 2 participants per team/seat)
Total No of Participants – 200
Last date of Registration – March 15th , 2021
3rd
May
to
28th
May
Seats Available – 100 ( 2 participants per team/seat)
Total No of Participants – 200
Last date of Registration – March 15th , 2021
Registration Criteria
Eligibility
⦁ Students studying in grades VI to XII are encouraged to participate.
⦁ A team of 2 students is essential to participate.
⦁ Students who have participated in earlier discovery projects, organised by STEM & Space
Infrastructure
Required
⦁ A Windows based Operating System (Desktop or Laptop).
⦁ APPLE/iOS systems & Tablets are not compatible with Astrometrica software.
⦁ Smooth and uninterrupted Internet connectivity.
Other
Information
⦁ Students should have computer skills to understand the software.
⦁ .Dedication to spend 1 hour everyday once the campaign begins.
⦁ Students participating in this program cannot participate in any other Asteroid search campaign for the year 2021.
Click here to register for IADP 2021
Post Registration Process
Access to STEM & Space learning system from March 22ND,2021
Go through curriculum (short video modules and information on the program)
Session Training by STEM & Space experts
Download practice data sets from IASC and submit
Start accessing real data sets from IASC.
Project Team
Dr Mila Mitra
Chief Scientific Officer & Co-Founder
Aryan Singh
Project Specialist
Arjun Gulliya
Project Specialist
Suvriti Dhawan
Project Specialist
Amoli Kakkar
Project Specialist
School Registration
International Asteroid Discovery Project (IADP)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Students from class 6th to 12th can participate.
No, you can join the search even if you know nothing about asteroids. It will be a great way to learn about them.
Yes, a team of two participants is required. If you don’t have a team member, please inform us. We will provide a team with whom you can precede in this project. However STEM & Space will not be responsible for the performance of the team member during the project.
All the registered participants will have access to the learning system of STEM & Space for initial self paced learning. STEM & Space will also conduct a session for each team to explain the functioning of software and will also assist in event of any technical glitch. In the learning system of STEM & Space, the participant will have access to short videos and troubleshooting information.
Students need to check their registered email ids frequently for all information.
All training videos, self- paced learning material will be uploaded on the LMS for participants to access and understand as per their ease. Access to LMS will be granted on or after March 22nd, 2021.
All the participants will receive the certificate one month after the program is over because it comes from IASC.
The Astrometrica software will be uploaded on the LMS and access will be granted to all registered participant on or after March 22nd, 2021. Participants can refer to the software videos for installation.
All training manuals and videos will be uploaded on the LMS. The participants will receive a ‘Handout’ folder with 4 documents- 1. Read Me First, 2. Instructions for Using Astrometrica, 3. Signature Guide, 4. Submitting Reports. Other than that, these documents, participants will also receive sample data sets for practice. The learning material and software will be uploaded on the LMS for participants to access as per their convenience.
No, Astrometrica software is not compatible on these platforms.
Yes, an internet with good bandwidth is required for this project.
Participants can login and download the image sets from their accounts once the project starts. We shall communicate that through your registered mail id.
You should spend minimum 1 hour each day for the project.
No, you won’t receive it on daily basis. However the participants should login and check the IASC website every day.
In a case like that, please notify your assigned teacher/STEM & Space team. A quick action will be taken.