Astrometrica is a popular software program designed for astrometric data reduction and the detection of moving objects in astronomical images, primarily used by amateur and professional astronomers to identify asteroids and comets. It is widely used in asteroid search campaigns, such as those conducted by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC). Key features and aspects of Astrometrica include:
Moving Object Detection: It enables the comparison of multiple astronomical images (blinking) to identify moving objects against a background of fixed stars.
Astrometry and Data Reduction: It allows users to calculate the precise Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec) of an object by measuring its position relative to known stars in the image.
Catalog Matching: It uses stellar catalogs (like Gaia) to identify stars in images, which is essential for accurate positioning.
Observation Reporting: It can generate observational reports (MPC format) that can be submitted to the Minor Planet Center.
Platform: The software is designed for Windows and is frequently updated, with a version available for Windows ⁄11.
This video explains the process of identifying asteroids using Astrometrica: Asteroid ID with Astrometrica to Save The World Dylan O’Donnell YouTube · Aug 31, 2020 Key Steps in Using Astrometrica:
Configure: Set up the program with observatory details (longitude, latitude, elevation) and accurate image settings (e.g., PS1.cfg). Load Images: Load FITS images into the software.
Data Reduction: Run astrometric data reduction to identify objects.
Blink and Detect: Use the “blink” feature to spot moving objects.
Verify and Report: Verify the object’s movement and report the findings.
Astrometrica requires a registration key as noted in this tutorial and is not designed for Mac OS.
Where to download the software (I can confirm the link in the search results) How to configure it for IASC campaigns The requirements for a, “registered observatory” code Asteroid ID with Astrometrica to Save The World