Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 45, Issue 18, 1828006(2025)

Analysis of Space‑ and Lunar‑Based Observation Conditions of Near‑Earth Asteroids (Invited)

Jiaqi Wang1, Shuangliang Liu2,3,4, Hui Zhi1, Zhiliu Lu2,3,4, Huijuan Wang1,5, Yindi Zhang1,5, Mengqiu He1,5, Xiaoming Zhang1,5, Zhe Zhang2,3,6、*, and Xiaojun Jiang1,5、**
Author Affiliations
  • 1National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
  • 2Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, Hefei 230071, Anhui , China
  • 3National Key Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration, Hefei 230000, Anhui , China
  • 4Deep Space Exploration Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100041, China
  • 5School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • 6China’s Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, Beijing 100037, China
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    Figures & Tables(18)
    Schematic diagram four groups of NEAs[8]. (a) Apollo group; (b) Amor group; (c) Aten group; (d) Atira group
    Normalized number density of NEAs discovered by CSS and Pan-STARRS on the celestial sphere, as a function of right ascension and declination (first line and second line) and ecliptic longitude and latitude (third line and fourth line), and the images from left to right correspond to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter[2]
    Ecliptic coordinates at discovery for NEAs detected by G96 site and 703 site of CSS[16]
    Diameter‒cumulative number distribution of NEOs[18]
    Positions distribution of NEAs at different time (vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice) for a platform orbiting in a Sun-synchronous orbit
    Positions distribution of NEAs at different time (vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice) for a platform orbiting in a dynamical substitutes orbit of Earth‒Moon Lagrange point L4/5 (EML4/5 DSs orbit)
    Positions distribution of NEAs at different time (vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice) for different stations located at lunar surface. (a) (42°E, 89°S); (b) (0°, 0°); (c) (180°E, 0°)
    Diagram of Earth‒atmospheric radiation avoidance angle
    Coverage rate of visible sky areas of device in a Sun-synchronous orbit during the period from Jan. 1, 2030 to Dec. 31, 2030
    Coverage rate of visible sky areas of device in a EML4/5 DSs orbit during the period from Jan. 1, 2030 to Dec. 31, 2030
    Diagram of sites location for simulation (background moon map from Riris[40])
    Coverage rate of visible sky areas at different locations on the lunar surface during the period from Jan. 1, 2030 to Dec. 31, 2030
    Comparison of visible sky coverage rate by three types of platforms within one Earth revolution period
    Cumulative time distribution of each NEA monitored by different observation sites within one Earth revolution period
    Visible segment of Apophis, 2015 XF261, 2024 YR4, and Kamo’oalewa monitored by each observation platform/site within one Earth revolution period respectively, and grey curves are the invisible segment
    • Table 1. Detection rate of NEAs by different aperture devices on various observation platforms

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      Table 1. Detection rate of NEAs by different aperture devices on various observation platforms

      Orbital platform/observation siteDetection rate /%
      1 m aperture equipment2 m aperture equipment3 m aperture equipment5 m aperture equipment
      Sun-synchronous orbit4.511.818.929.4
      L4/5 libration point dynamical substitute orbit (Earth‒Moon system)4.511.918.929.4
      Lunar surface high latitude (42°E, 89°S)5.111.417.025.5
      Lunar surface mid-latitude (0°, 45°N)4.511.718.829.3
      Lunar surface mid-latitude (180°E, 45°N)4.511.718.829.3
      Lunar surface low latitude (0°, 0°)4.411.818.829.2
      Lunar surface low latitude (180°E, 0°)4.411.718.729.2
    • Table 2. Basic parameters of four near-Earth asteroids of Apophis, 2015 XF261, 2024 YR4, and Kamo’oalewa

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      Table 2. Basic parameters of four near-Earth asteroids of Apophis, 2015 XF261, 2024 YR4, and Kamo’oalewa

      AsteroidApophis412015 XF261412024 YR441-42Kamo’oalewa41
      Associated orbit groupAtenAtenApolloApollo
      Orbital inclination i /(°)3.3410.7943.4087.800
      Eccentricity e0.1910.3190.6620.102
      Semi-major axis a /AU0.9220.9902.5161.000
      Absolute magnitude H19.0925.0023.9224.31
      Diameter D /km0.340.0480.06±0.0070.065
    • Table 3. Cumulative time ratio of Apophis, 2015 XF261, 2024 YR4, and Kamo’oalewa monitored by each observation platform/site within one Earth revolution period respectively

      View table

      Table 3. Cumulative time ratio of Apophis, 2015 XF261, 2024 YR4, and Kamo’oalewa monitored by each observation platform/site within one Earth revolution period respectively

      Observation platform/siteCumulative time ratio /%
      Apophis2015 XF2612024 YR4Kamo’oalewa
      Sun-synchronous orbit31.640.642.155.0
      L4/5 libration point dynamical substitute orbit (Earth‒Moon system)41.756.857.286.1
      Lunar surface high latitude (42°E, 89°S)26.265.066.834.7
      Lunar surface mid-latitude (0°, 45°N)24.433.030.054.9
      Lunar surface mid-latitude (180°E, 45°N)25.531.533.355.0
      Lunar surface low latitude (0°, 0°)24.333.931.744.6
      Lunar surface low latitude (180°E, 0°)25.532.435.044.5
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    Jiaqi Wang, Shuangliang Liu, Hui Zhi, Zhiliu Lu, Huijuan Wang, Yindi Zhang, Mengqiu He, Xiaoming Zhang, Zhe Zhang, Xiaojun Jiang. Analysis of Space‑ and Lunar‑Based Observation Conditions of Near‑Earth Asteroids (Invited)[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2025, 45(18): 1828006

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    Paper Information

    Category: Remote Sensing and Sensors

    Received: Jun. 24, 2025

    Accepted: Aug. 28, 2025

    Published Online: Sep. 16, 2025

    The Author Email: Zhe Zhang (cndszz@sina.cn), Xiaojun Jiang (xjjiang@nao.cas.cn)

    DOI:10.3788/AOS251348

    CSTR:32393.14.AOS251348

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