This project aims at discovering asteroids by mining existing JWST mid-infrared images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This has a major impact in two fields: the origin and evolution of the Solar System (SS) and the defence of planet Earth.
The asteroids composition and orbital distribution are a record of the early SS, its evolution and dynamic history. Asteroids likely played a major role in delivering water and complex molecules to Earth, making them a crucial element to the origin of life. Nowadays, asteroids impacting Earth can have dramatic consequences, locally or globally. Hence, planetary defence has become a major field of space research and technology. Since unknown asteroids form the main thread, discovering them and measuring their orbital parameters is a key step in planetary defence.
JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) images provide unprecedented precision and resolution at peak thermal emission of asteroids. Millions of images are being taken serendipitously in MIRI's science programs, a gold mine to search for new asteroids.
This project unfolds in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), which has a Space Safety program with an "Asteroids and Planetary Defence" component. The project also has a citizen science component using the Zooniverse platform.
