<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp7da294e7yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Hello BAA Comet members,</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">I wish to learn of a question from you. This is on Sky Surveys.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">The last I was in touch in depth on this topic was over half a decade ago (when working vehemently on comet history, if some of you recall). So I'm out of touch on the developments -- and shut downs -- that have happened on the sky survey front in the by-gone recent years.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">What has changed since half a decade ago? Pan-STARRS. Just now came to know of ATLAS. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And?</span></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Generally speaking, w</span>ith so many -- as ever -- sky surveys around in the northern hemisphere and the <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">still-</span>incompetent ratio with the southern hemisphere, what is the status of patrolling going on in the northern hemi.? Is it going to reach a saturation level anytime, disregarding the fact that newer minor planets will keep appearing and being discovered from what are actually existing?</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">What is the <u>utility</u> of a northern hemisphere sky survey being established as of 2019, say until 2025? Is it of any useful value if any new northern surveys are constructed? Or should the focus go southern? And what if the surveys are amateur sized, i.e. 16-24 inches with sensitive CCDs? My intention of asking is not of professional sized surveys (>0.75-1-meter) but of amateur ones.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Just asking.</span><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Next question. If you -- <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">amateur sized surveys --</span> are to hunt for undiscovered objects from where you are -- above +30* -- then what are your likely targets going to be from the genres available? Comets. Main Belt Asteroids. Near Earth Asteroids. Supernovae. Novae. Variable Stars. Some other Transient Objects.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Its understood that the thrust of working the survey is "to enjoy the journey more than the destination", i.e. happy if you get some new under your belt, but even happier to be out each night attempting sleuthing.</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Thank you. Regards, Amar.</div></span></div></body></html>