The Pan-STARRS Search for Near-Earth Objects: Ten Years Old and Still Going Strong

The Pan-STARRS telescopes, located near the summit of Haleakala, on the island of Maui in Hawaii, have been engaged in a search for Near-Earth Objects since 2014. The survey now utilizes two 1.8-meter telescopes, and has become one of the leading Near-Earth Object surveys. The survey strategy is explained. Among the strengths of Pan-STARRS is discovery of larger objects, for which an Earth impact would likely be serious. Approximately 44% of asteroids with diameter >140 meters are now believed to have been discovered, and Pan-STARRS has led the discovery of these larger objects nearly every year since 2014. Due to the structure of its camera and focal plane, Pan-STARRS is weaker at discovering faster moving objects (which are usually smaller objects due to their proximity to Earth). Pan-STARRS delivers excellent astrometry that allows some Near-Earth Objects to be identified based solely on non-linear motion across the sky caused by the motion of the observer as Earth rotates. Among the most important discoveries by Pan-STARRS is the first interstellar object, ‘Oumuamua. After 10 years, Pan-STARRS continues to be productive, and will be a strong northern hemisphere complement to the survey that will soon begin in the south with the Rubin Observatory. Further in the future, visible light measurements from Pan-STARRS will likley complement infrared NEO discoveries from the NEO Surveyor Mission.