Can one use a space-based telescope to look for Vulcanoids?
Outer space offers excellent opportunities to look for Vulcanoid asteroids. Unfortunately, most space-based telescopes cannot be pointed to positions close to the Sun. See Question 4.1: “Can one use the Hubble to look for Vulcanoids”. Telescopes such as Hubble or Spritzer cannot be used in the search. Space-based solar telescopes such as SOHO can view the Sun. Unfortunately, while their optical systems were created to deal the bright Sun, they are not very good at viewing dim objects near the Sun. A team led by Dr. Durda used the Large-Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft to conduct the most extensive search to date. Despite the special optical systems aboard SOHO, they were limited to searching for object brighter than magnitude +8.0. It is possible to build a special space-based telescope with extensive light baffling and shielding that is capable to viewing within the Vulcanoid zone. However, as of 15 October 2005, no such s
