IASC Asteroid Search Campaigns

# IASC Asteroid Search Campaigns The International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC, pronounced "Isaac") is a NASA Citizen Science project that gives students original astronomical discovery experience. During month-long campaigns, participating school teams receive fresh CCD image sets from professional survey telescopes and search them for moving objects - main belt asteroids, near-Earth objects, and trans-Neptunian objects. Since 2006, IASC participants have logged thousands of preliminary asteroid detections, with confirmed student discoveries catalogued by the International Astronomical Union and named by their discoverers. ## What You'll Do - Register a team for a campaign from the published schedule (campaigns run year-round; one set runs August 7 - September 1, 2026) - Complete a roughly two-hour tutorial and install the free Astrometrica analysis software - Analyze image sets delivered to your team during the month-long campaign, flagging asteroid candidates - Submit measurement reports; genuine detections go to the Minor Planet Center, and confirmed discoveries are credited to your team ## Who Should Apply School teams and student groups anywhere in the US - teachers typically register a team, and no astronomy background is needed. Participation is completely free; images, software, and training are all provided. Campaigns usually fill about 30 days before their start date, so register early. ## Outcomes Students perform real astrometry that contributes to planetary defense and minor-planet science, and can earn provisional discovery credit for new asteroids - one of the only ways a middle or high school student can put their name on a solar system object.