Asteroid Detection with the Pan-STARRS Moving Object Processing System

We present the first asteroid discoveries by the Pan-STARRS prototype telescope (PS1) using the Moving Object Processing System (MOPS). The MOPS was designed to be capable of detecting fast moving objects whizzing by the Earth as well as those moving as slowly as the fastest proper motion stars. We will discuss the design of the MOPS and its efficiency, accuracy, and reliability as determined from long term realistic simulations with synthetically generated objects in the presence of false detections. Our simulations with a synthetic but realistic NEO population indicate that PS1 will discover more of these hazardous objects in its 3.5 year mission than all existing surveys have identified since asteroids were first discovered more than 200 years ago. In particular, we will show that PS1 has a high efficiency for discovering objects that will actually impact the Earth in the next 100 years.