The importance of follow-up observations for newly discovered NEOs

The increasing rate of NEO discoveries in recent years requires more precis e follow-up observations over a sufficient are. Here we discuss methods and results of the targeted NEO follow-up astrometry programme at the Klet' Ob servatory. The 0.57-m reflector, equipped with a CCD camera, has been used for confirmations of newly discovered NEO candidates and early follow-up as trometry of NEOs at the discovery opposition since 1994. The Klet' Observat ory is one of the most productive sites in the world in this field. The Kle t' Observatory obtained astrometric observations of 85% of the potentially hazardous asteroids discovered in 1998, the majority of them as confirmatio ns of the discovery and early follow-up used for preliminary orbit computat ions. The recoveries of NEOs at a second opposition and follow-up astrometr y of poorly observed NEOs at further oppositions are also provided. In the near future we are going to finish an extension of this programme to fainte r objects and very fast-moving objects using a 1.02-m reflector at Klet'. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.