Introduction

This tool was prepared to estimate the impact of the asteroids on infrared (IR) and submillimetre (submm) observations, from 5μm to 1000μm. The calculations are based on the Statistical Asteroid Model (SAM-I, Tedesco et al., 2005, AJ 129, 2869). For detailed description of the calculations and results of the model we refer to the documents to be found in the preceeding pages, especially at this URL. To correctly understand and apply the outputs of the calculations to your own measurements, it is very important to read these reference documents. Below, you can supply max. 5 requests for specific sky coordinates, dates, wavelengths, and sensitivities. The results describing the expected impact of asteroids are returned to you in the form of a simple ASCII table.

Description of input/output parameters

Input parameters:

• Celestial coordinates of the target field in decimal degrees for J2000. You can specify either equatorial (R.A., Dec) or ecliptical (λ, β) coordinates.
• Date of the observation. In our model the calculations were performed for the period from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2012. It is possible to give a date outside this range, but then the returned values are calculated for the same solar elongation configuration in the time span above, closest to the suppiled date. Format: 'YYYY-MM-DD', where 'YYYY' is the year of the observation, 'MM' is the month of the year (1...12) and 'DD' is the day of the month (1...31)
  
• Wavelength of the observation (λ) in micrometers (μm); format: '123.456', the possible range is 5...1000μm
  
• Sensitivity limit (S_lim) in Jansky (Jy). The fluctuation level due to unresolved sources (F_lim) and the count of "detectable" asteroids (N_lim = N(S>S_lim)) are both calculated respective to S_lim; the input format should be one of the followings: '12.3456', '1.23456e-1' or '1.23456E+1'
  

Output parameters:

• δF₀: Full fluctuation level due to asteroids in [Jy²sr^-1] units.
  
• δF_lim: Fluctuation level due to asteroids below the detection limit S_lim in [Jy²sr^-1] units.
  
• N_tot: Total number of asteroids.
  
• N_lim: Number of asteroids with fluxes above S_lim, at the wavelength specified.
  
• B₀: Average contribution of asteroids in the SAM-I model to the background surface brightness, at the wavelength specified, in [MJy sr^-1] units.
  

Auxiliary output data:

• λ_sun: The ecliptical longitude of the Sun, at the given date (at 0^h00 UT), in degrees.
• E: The solar elongation of the specified position, in degrees (followed by either 'E' or 'W' for Eastern or Western elongation, respectively).

Request Form

Coordinate types:		Equatorial (R.A., Dec)		Ecliptical (Ecl. longitude, Ecl. latitude)
Observing location:		Geocentric (between 2000 - 2012)		Spitzer Space Telescope (between 2004 - 2009)
	R.A.	Dec	Date	λ	Slim
	(deg)	(deg)	(YYYY-MM-DD)	(μm)	(Jy)
Pos. #1
Pos. #2
Pos. #3
Pos. #4
Pos. #5

Note that by pressing 'Continue', you also accept that your requested queries above will be logged. If you are using the data supplied by this tool in a scientific publication, please cite one of our references and include the address of this web page in your publication.