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The digest2 NEO Classification Code

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Abstract

  • We describe the {digest}2 software package, a fast, short-arc orbit classifier for small solar system bodies. The {digest}2 algorithm has been serving the community for more than 13 yr. The code provides a score, {D}2, which represents a pseudo-probability that a tracklet belongs to a given solar system orbit type. {digest}2 is primarily used as a classifier for Near-Earth Object (NEO) candidates, to identify those to be prioritized for follow-up observation. We describe the historical development of {digest}2 and demonstrate its use on real and synthetic data. We find that {digest}2 can accurately and precisely distinguish NEOs from non-NEOs. At the time of detection, 14% of NEO tracklets and 98.5% of non-NEOs tracklets have {D}2 below the critical value of {D}2=65.94 % of our simulated NEOs achieved the maximum {D}2=100 % and 99.6% of NEOs achieved {D}2≥slant 65 at least once during the simulated 10-year timeframe. We demonstrate that {D}2 varies as a function of time, rate of motion, magnitude and sky-plane location, and show that NEOs tend to have lower {D}2 at low Solar elongations close to the ecliptic. We use our findings to recommend future development directions for the {digest}2 code.

Publication Date

  • 2019

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