This three-year project grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Astronomical Sciences totals $293,281 to improve the accuracy of sky position measurements for minor planets using the Legacy Survey of Space and Time. Conducted by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the research will analyze LSST observations of thousands of Trojan asteroids and 200,000 main belt asteroids to measure their motions to within 10 meters and 1 meter, respectively. This highly precise astrometry will enable detection of any undiscovered "Planet X" in the outer solar system through its gravitational influence on the test particles. It will also determine the masses of approximately 10 Trojans and 150-250 main belt asteroids based on their close passages. Combining these signals could measure the mean mass-brightness relationship for main belt asteroids as small as 15 km in diameter and Trojans as small as 50 km. The work indirectly supports other astronomers through substantially enhanced accuracy of LSST measurements and expands participation in astrophysical research by students from underrepresented groups.
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