International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) Asteroid Search Campaign
by International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)
Real asteroid discovery credit
Free month-long online campaigns where student teams analyse Pan-STARRS telescope images to detect and report new asteroids.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Team
Teams of 2 or more
Duration
One month per campaign, with about eleven campaigns run each year
Time needed
About one hour a day through the month-long campaign, plus practice with the software beforehand
Eligibility
A team needs at least two members, a Windows computer and an internet connection. No prior astronomy knowledge is required. IASC sets no upper age limit, and adult citizen science groups take part alongside school teams.
- Age range
- Open to all ages
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Basic computer skills to install and run Astrometrica
- A teammate, since teams need at least two members
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Recognition
Real asteroid discovery credit
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Form a team of at least two members
- 2Pick a campaign from the IASC schedule that fits the team's calendar
- 3Fill in the IASC registration form and email it to the IASC coordinator
- 4Install the IASC version of Astrometrica on a Windows computer and practise with the sample image sets
- 5Download the campaign image sets and submit measurement reports through the IASC website
Rules and guidelines
- Teams must have at least two members
- Team names cannot be changed once a campaign has begun
- Reports must be submitted only through the IASC website
- Measure an object only when it is clearly visible; guessing a position invalidates the observation
- Three measurements of an object are enough to report it
Technology requirements
- Windows desktop or laptop, since Astrometrica does not run on macOS
- Stable internet connection for downloading image sets and submitting reports
- IASC version of the Astrometrica software
- IASC Quick Start Guide and practice image sets
About this opportunity
The International Astronomical Search Collaboration runs month-long online campaigns in which student teams analyse real telescope images and search for asteroids that have never been catalogued.
Each campaign gives a team its own set of four-image sequences taken by the 1.8 metre Pan-STARRS survey telescope. Teams blink the images in the Astrometrica software, separate genuine moving objects from artefacts, measure each object's position and brightness, and submit a report through the IASC website for review by IASC astronomers.
Teams need at least two members, a Windows computer and an internet connection. Participation costs nothing, no prior astronomy knowledge is expected, and volunteer IASC trainers answer questions by email in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati and several other languages.
Reports that hold up become preliminary detections, and those confirmed by the Minor Planet Center become provisional detections that count as asteroid discoveries. Further observation across three to five years can lead to a numbered entry in the official minor planet catalogue, after which the discoverers may propose a name to the International Astronomical Union.
What your child will do
- Downloading four-image sequences from survey telescopes
- Blinking image sets in Astrometrica to spot moving objects
- Measuring asteroid positions and brightness
- Preparing and submitting Minor Planet Center reports
- Practising on sample image sets before the campaign starts
Mentors and faculty
IASC Trainers, a volunteer panel of experienced participants who assist teams by email in English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati, Odia and other languages, supported by IASC astronomers who verify detections and take follow-up images
Languages
Academic details
Difficulty: Intermediate
What's covered
Teams learn to blink four-image sequences from survey telescopes in Astrometrica, tell genuine moving objects apart from artefacts, measure position and brightness, and prepare a report in Minor Planet Center format.
Frequently asked questions
What does a team actually do during a campaign?
Each team receives sets of four images of the same patch of sky taken minutes apart by the Pan-STARRS survey telescope. Students blink through the four images in Astrometrica, look for a point of light that shifts against the fixed stars, measure its position and brightness, and submit a report through the IASC website.
Does a family need a telescope or any astronomy background?
No. The images come from professional survey telescopes, so no telescope is needed at home. IASC supplies the software, a Quick Start Guide and practice image sets, and volunteer trainers answer questions by email in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati and other languages.
What computer is needed?
Astrometrica runs only on Windows, so a team needs a Windows desktop or laptop. It does not work on macOS, iOS or tablets. A stable internet connection is also needed to download image sets and upload reports.
How long does it take for a detection to become a real discovery?
A valid measurement is first listed as a preliminary detection. If the Minor Planet Center verifies it, it becomes a provisional detection and is recognised as an asteroid discovery. The object is then tracked for a further three to five years until its orbit is settled and it receives a permanent number.
Can students name an asteroid they discover?
Once a discovery has been numbered, the discoverers may propose a name. The proposal goes to the International Astronomical Union, which decides the official names of asteroids and other minor planets. IASC lists three Indian school teams among its numbered discoverers.
Share with other parents
Categories
WiWit
Never miss the right opportunities for your child
The WiWit app shows you only the ones that fit your child.
- Matched to your child's grade, age, and interests
- Deadline reminders so you never miss registration
- Every opportunity verified before it's listed
Related opportunities
GYS Avishkar Awards - National Science Project Competition
by GETA Service Trust
A national online science project competition for students of classes 6-12, focusing on low-cost, grassroots innovations with societal impact.
What your child could gain:
NIAS Maiya Prodigy Fellowship Programme
by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Pan-India gifted education fellowship awarding INR 50,000 plus multi-year mentorship to academically exceptional students who complete Grade 10 with strong performance.
What your child could gain:
International Neuroscience Olympiad (INO)
by The International Neuroscience Olympiad (INO), Inc
A global research-based competition for students grade 9-12, focusing on neuroscience to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills.
What your child could gain:
See what fits your child
Get the free app