International Astronomical Search Collaboration
The International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) is a partnership between universities in Texas, United States with international astronomical observatories and educational institutes and Austrian amateur astronomer and software developer Herbert Raab. The initiative aims to make astronomical observational data available to high school students around the world in order to search for previously undiscovered asteroids and is led by Dr. J. Patrick Miller of Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
Haus der Astronomie collaborates with IASC on a range of topics, but most particularly within the Pan-STARRS asteroid search campaign. Pan-STARRS, the Panoramic Survey Telescope And Rapid Response System, comprises two 1.8-meter telescopes located in Hawaii that continuously scan the sky in search of near-Earth asteroids. Pan-STARRS makes part of its observational data available to IASC in order to facilitate the asteroid search with high school students.
The Haus der Astronomie coordinates and supervises groups of German-speaking students taking part in the IASC asteroid search programs and provides accompanying German-language materials.
More information