8010(  1) - 04/16/98 14:18  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      8010
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 16-Apr-1998
                                                                      14:14:19

1.Proposal Title:
A Reanalysis of the HST Kuiper Belt Object Search
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               7
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4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Michael E. Brown                  Caltech

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5. Abstract

Determining the number and size distribution of Kuiper belt objects is essential for
understanding the solar system beyond Neptune. Cochran et al. (1995) reported a
statistical detection of ~ 10 km objects in the Kuiper belt suggesting important
constraints on the mass and history of the the trans -Neptunian region, the source
of the short-period comets, and the size distribution of KBOs. Recently, however,
Brown et al. (1997) have called this result into question by examining the noise
statistics of the data and concluding that the number of false detections would
greatly outweigh the number of real objects. Cochran et al. maintain that their
analysis is correct, though they do not specifically respond to any of the points
raised by BKL. We propose a thorough reanalysis of the HST KBO search data to
definitively determine if there are or are not KBOs visible in the data. In this
search we will both reproduce the exact search method used by CLSD and utilize our
own optimized search procedure. In both cases, we will determine the limits to the
detection of KBOs using the method and whether or not any KBOs above those limits
appear in the data. Finally, we will make all of the data products and analysis
software publicly available so independent investigators can easily verify all
results.
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  Data Distribution

  Media:           ELECTRONIC
  Blocking Factor: 10
  Ship To:         PI_Address
  Ship Via:
  Email:
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                                                8010(  1) - 04/16/98 14:18  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  8010

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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