Initial findings from a telescopic search for small comets near earth

An analysis is provided for the capabilities of the Spacewatch Camera operated at Kitt Peak National Observatory by the University of Arizona for the detection of the large flux of small comets in the vicinity of earth that is proposed by Frank et al. (1986). The characteristics of this telescope are used to determine its optimum operational mode for the detection of these small comets. It is concluded that the Spacewatch Camera can detect these small comets near earth if the proposed large fluxes in prograde orbits are present. It is unlikely that previous optical telescope surveys would have detected these objects. A heretofore undetected, large flux of small objects was detected. The characteristics of these objects appear to be in general agreement with those of the comets proposed by Frank et al. (1986). No other known population of objects or other effects that could provide the observed optical signatures has been identified at this time. Because these initial results are of such great importance to our perception of the solar system, they should be conservatively treated as an initial result until confirmation is made with similar observations from other telescopes.