Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network, Inc.

Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) Has Been Operating the First Phase of a Distributed Telescope Network for Nearly Three Years. the Telescope Network Now Consists of Two 2-METER Telescopes One Each at a Site in Each Hemisphere Nine 1-METER Telescopes With One Telescope at One Location in the Northern Hemisphere and Eight Telescopes at Three Locations in the Southern Hemisphere. the Global Coverage of the Network and the Apertures of Telescope Available Make the Lco Network Ideal for Follow-up and Characterization of a Wide Range of Solar System Objects (e.g. Asteroids Kuiper Belt Objects Comets) and in Particular Near-earth Objects (neos). We Have Been Utilizing the Two 2-METER Telescopes and Nine 1-METER Telescopes as Part of the 'lcogt/lco Neo Follow-up Network' Since 2013 and This Program Was Greatly Enhanced With the Receipt of a Nasa Neoo Grant From the ROSES2013 Program. the Combination of All-sky Access Large Aperture Rapid Response Robotic Operation and Good Site Conditions Have Allowed Us to Provide Time-critical Follow-up Astrometry and Photometry on Newly Discovered Objects and Faint Objects Allowing the Orbital Arc to Be Extended and Preventing Loss of Objects. the Lco Neo Follow-up Network Is Now Providing Important Neo Follow-up for the Surveys Particularly in the Southern Hemisphere Where Lco Has a Large Concentration of Telescopes and Other Resources Are Scarce. During the Previous Nasa Neoo Grant We Have Built and Deployed a New Observing Portal (neoexchange) Which Collects and Aggregates Data for a Variety of Solar System Objects From the MPC and the Planetary Radar and Nasa Target Lists. Neoexchange Allows the Planning and Scheduling of Telescopic Observations and the Analysis and Reporting of the Data for Multiple Users Running Different Observing Programs on the Lco Network. We Wish to Continue Our Successful Program of Robotic Observations of Neos and Other Solar System Objects That Are Being Carried Out With the Lco Neo Follow-up Network and Its Neoexchange Portal and Extend It to Allow Faster and More Automated Responses and to Further Increase the Throughput of Candidates That Are Confirmed. in Addition We Wish to Make Photometric Characterization and Analysis of High Value Neos Automatic and Routine. These High Value Neos Are Those That Are Scheduled for Radar Observation Could Become Potential Mission Destinations for Spacecraft or That Have Potential Close-approaches to the Earth. We Can Accomplish This Through the Automated Scheduling and Analysis of Multi-color (including Quasi-simultaneous Observations Making Use of Lco's Multiple Telescopes at One Site) and Time-series Observations. This Proposal Is Highly Responsive to the Goals of the Neoo Program by Helping to Inventory and Characterize Neos Down to Small Sizes. This Directly Addresses the Congressionally-mandated Goal of Tracking and Characterizing 90% of Those Neos That Are Greater Than 140 Meters in Diameter. Combining the Astrometry With Enhanced Data Such as Colors Rotation Rates and Spectra Will Allow Better Characterization of Potentially Dangerous Earth-crossing Objects and Potential Near-earth Nasa Spacecraft Mission Targets. Enhancement and Streamlining of the Observation Planning Scheduling and Data Analysis Will Allow Us to Able to Rapidly Respond to the Short Window of Observational Opportunity for Targets Smaller Than 100 Meters Will Also Enhance the Response to the Hazard Posed by Close-passing Small Objects.