The contribution of asteroids to the infrared astronomical sky survey

The use of any infrared sensor for sky survey measurements is complicated by signals from objects in the solar system. The identification of planets is trivial but asteroids and other small bodies form a large class of objects which cannot be recognized as readily. In the 8- to 30-micron region they are an especially significant possible source of signals. With a median period of 4.6 years, asteroid motions of about a quarter of a degree per day are typical, implying that each observation must be treated independently to properly identify asteroids. As infrared detectors become more sensitive, previously unknown asteroids will appear and must be identified as such. (Author).