Earth's Busy Neighborhood
ACC's Small Object Report for 27 March - 2 April 2006
A semi-automated report compiled on 3 April 2006 at 0000 UTC
There are five* small objects reported in the last 168 hours, during which one was newly discovered.
*One probably larger object is also included in this week's report.
Currently 1025 NEAs are listed with H>22.0 by JPL and/or the Minor Planet Center (845 are listed as such by both).
[ news | objects by size | object index alpha/cross-ref | 48 Hours | viewing | weekly ]
Editor's note: As asteroids go, "small" is defined as having an
absolute magnitude (brightness) calculated at greater than H=22.0, which
converts very roughly to a diameter under 135 meters.
No matter how close they come to the Earth, the astronomical community
does not classify such objects as "potentially hazardous." However, as
demonstrated by the mile wide (1.6 km.) Barringer Crater in Arizona, blasted
out by a "small" asteroid some 50,000 years ago, there are asteroids too small
to be labeled "potentially hazardous" that actually could cause severe local
damage. These are sometimes called "Tunguska-class objects" (TCOs), after the
1908 event probably caused by a comet fragment or asteroid too small to be
classified today as hazardous but packing enough wallop to flatten a Siberian
forest area the size of a large city.
NEODyS in December 2005 changed its main Risk page to classify "Objects too
small to result in heavy damage on the ground" as having "absolute
magnitude > 25," which corresponds to perhaps 35 meters wide.
And JPL two months earlier started flagging (with a blue background) risk-listed
objects of "Estimated diameter 50 meters or less" as "not likely to
cause significant damage in the event of an impact, although impact damage
does depend heavily upon the specific (and usually unknown) physical
properties of the object in question."
Small asteroids that come close enough to Earth to be seen have significant
potential for scientific study today, and for exploration and
exploitation someday. Mainly a sampling of distant asteroid populations, a few
may be remnants of the event that created the Earth-Moon system.
Some of these objects are discovered while close to Earth moving across the sky
quite quickly, when they are called "FMOs" or "VFMOs" (very fast moving objects).
The discovery and follow-up tracking of asteroids with H>22.0 represents
some of the most difficult and very best observing work being done today by
amateur and professional astronomers around the world, and the page you are
reading is dedicated to recognizing their ongoing successes.
Small Object News (newest items first) [ object listings |
index |
48 Hours |
viewing |
weekly |
top ]
- April 2: Observations of only eight unnnumbered near-Earth objects are reported in the Sunday Daily Orbit Update (DOU) MPEC, none of them small asteroids.
- April 1: No observations of small asteroids were reported in today's DOU MPEC. The discovery of 2006 FH36 has been announced, spotted by the Siding Spring Survey in Australia yesterday after passing the Earth the day before at about 11.6 lunar distances.
JPL has removed two low-rated impact solutions that passed yesterday and today for 2006 FU162, a tiny asteroid that at this time two years ago made the closest Earth flyby yet observed by telescope. See a news thread (best viewed with any browser but FireFox) for more about the 2004 visit.
- March 31: No observations of small asteroids are reported today. 2006 FL10 was reported, however, and its virtual impactor orbits have been removed, definitely putting its size estimate at larger than the definition of "small" (see March 28th below).
- March 30: One small asteroid was reported observed in Thursday's DOU MPEC 2006-F52. The Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona added four days to the one-day discovery arc of 2006 FW. That was all it took to get this object delisted as an impact risk, and just in time, since it will go out of view for most NEO observers in a few days.
- March 29: An asteroid with discovery announced today, 2006 FW33, is generally calculated to have an absolute magnitude around H=20.2 based on preliminary nominal orbit calculations. So it is "not small" by that measure, which works out by standard formula to very roughly 320 meters in diameter. However, 2006 FW33 has been posted by JPL as an impact risk with H=23.2, or about 79 meters wide. This is the mean H derived from only orbit calculations that might result in Earth impact. And it is the second such situation in two days. See March 28th for the other.
The DOU MPEC 2006-F45 for today, Wednesday, reports observations of two small asteroids. Farpoint Observatory in Kansas tacked five days onto 2006 FH's discovery arc and also tracked 2006 FV, extending its two-day arc by about three days.
- March 28: The Tuesday DOU MPEC 2006-F41 reports observation of one small asteroid. Great Shefford Observatory in England put 2.610 more days on what had been the 1.014-day observing arc of 2006 FU.
An asteroid with its discovery announced today, 2006 FL10, is calculated from its preliminary nominal orbit to have an absolute magnitude of H=21.2, so not meeting the definition of "small." But alternate orbit calculations by JPL that pose a possible hazard to Earth would, if true, put this object's H at 22.3. See March 29th for a similar but more striking situation. Update: With the next observations reported on March 31st, JPL removed all impact solutions for 2006 FL10. JPL's H calculation is now 21.48 and the MPC's 21.5, which convert to very roughly 170 meters wide.
- March 27: Monday's DOU MPEC 2006-F37 reports observation of one small asteroid, 2006 FV, caught by Desert Moon Observatory in New Mexico and providing the first observations much beyond this object's discovery arc.
- See more news, from the week of 20-26 March and other weeks, or look up individual objects here. Also see reports about the nominal 1,000th small-asteroid discovery as counted by A/CC during the week ending February 26th, and, from the week of March 12th, a report on the end of the FMO Project at Spacewatch.
Object Listings -- smallest objects first [ Alpha Index | 48 Hours | top ]
2006 FU (K06F00U) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 26 meters per JPL H=25.59, MPC H=25.6
JPL classifies 2006 FU as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.009077 AU (3.53 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 3.8 lunar distances (LD) on 28 March 2006 at 0432 UT.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-F41:
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-03-27 2149-2149, 2 pos in MPEC 2006-F41, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 26 March 2006.
2006 FH (K06F00H) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 43 meters per JPL H=24.48, MPC H=24.5
JPL classifies 2006 FH as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.046704 AU (18.17 LD),
and reports this object will pass Earth at 18.6 LD on 15 April 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-F45:
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-03-29 0508-0533, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-F45, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 26 March 2006.
2006 FV (K06F00V) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 82 meters per JPL H=23.07, MPC H=23.0
JPL classifies 2006 FV as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.108320 AU (42.15 LD).
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 FV has an MOID of 0.04555 AU (17.72 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-F37 and 2006-F45:
Desert Moon Obs. [448]
2006-03-26 0735-0800, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-F37, follow-up
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-03-29 0548-0601, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-F45, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 26 March 2006.
2006 FH36 (K06F36H) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 87 meters per JPL H=22.95, MPC H=22.9
JPL classifies 2006 FH36 as an Aten and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.015537 AU (6.05 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 11.6 LD on 30 March 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 FH36 has an MOID of 0.04360 AU (16.96 LD) with Venus.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-G04:
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-03-31 1041-1110, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, discovery (*)
2006-03-31 1242-1248, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
2006-04-01 0941-0943, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
2006-04-01 1228-1247, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
Mt. John Obs. [474]
2006-03-31 1254-1321, 5 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
2006-04-01 0816-0821, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
2006-04-01 0934-0946, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
Reedy Creek Obs. [428]
2006-04-01 0951-0958, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-G04, confirmation
2006 FW (K06F00W) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 93 meters per JPL H=22.81, MPC H=22.8
This object was listed from 26 until 30 March 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2006 FW as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.087012 AU (33.86 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-F52:
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-03-29 0314-0325, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-F52, follow-up (H)
See also information from the week ending 26 March 2006.
2006 FW33 (K06F33W) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 320 meters per JPL H=20.12, MPC H=20.2 -- not small
This object has been listed as an impact risk since 29 March 2006.
JPL classifies 2006 FW33 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.065878 AU (25.63 LD).
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 FW33 has significant MOIDs with planets Mercury (0.01990 AU =
7.74 LD) and Mars (0.03830 AU = 14.9 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-F47:
Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) [G96]
2006-03-26 0702-0846, 7 pos in MPEC 2006-F47, discovery (*)
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-03-29 0428-0445, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-F47, confirmation (H)
48+120 Hours [ Objects Listings (size order) | Object Index (alpha/xref) | top ]
Observations of six small objects were reported during the last 168 hours:
2006 FH, 2006 FH36, 2006 FU, 2006 FV, 2006 FW & 2006 FW33
in MPECs:
2006-F37 time-stamped 2006 Mar. 27, 07:07 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-F41 time-stamped 2006 Mar. 28, 07:07 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-F45 time-stamped 2006 Mar. 29, 07:07 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-F47 time-stamped 2006 Mar. 29, 16:24 UT - 2006 FW33
2006-F52 time-stamped 2006 Mar. 30, 07:07 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-G04 time-stamped 2006 Apr. 1, 13:07 UT - 2006 FH36
Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page:
JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 April 2, 2354 UTC
JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 April 2, 2351 UTC
Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 Apr 02 1248:45 UTC
MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 April 2, 2352 UTC
Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 April 2, 2359 UTC (see CRT page)
Some observation sets have MPEC codes in parentheses, such as (*) denoting discovery.
Viewing Opportunities for Small Objects [ news | size order | alpha order | top ]
This compilation shows 25 small objects as being currently in view,
including 20 not reported in the last seven days.
Viewing by date order - see this list also by designation order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 FW 2006-04-03 0.087012 93 22.81 4 - was risk listed - (30 March)
2006 EF1 2006-04-05 0.028321 91 22.86 4 - past obs. - (11 March)
2006 EK53 2006-04-05 0.013657 84 23.03 14 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 DD42 2006-04-05 0.127327 56 23.92 29 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EJ53 2006-04-06 0.286309 114 22.36 17 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EW 2006-04-09 0.029542 66 23.54 17 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EW52 2006-04-09 0.143728 126 22.14 20 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 FW33 2006-04-11 0.065878 320 20.12 3 - risk listed - nominally not small - (29 March)
2006 DM 2006-04-12 0.078535 51 24.09 31 - past obs. - (29 Feb.)
2003 FK1 2006-04-14 0.013874 112 22.41 8 - faint recov. poss. - (22 Jan.)
2006 DN 2006-04-15 0.004389 43 24.48 32 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EB1 2006-04-16 0.035213 68 23.48 3 - past obs. - (12 March)
2005 XO4 2006-04-20 0.021856 126 22.14 23 - past obs. - (7 Jan.)
2006 FV 2006-04-25 0.108320 82 23.07 5 - (29 March)
2006 FL10 2006-04-25 2 - nominally not small - (29 March)
2006 EE 2006-04-27 0.060515 70 23.41 8 - past obs. - (12 March)
2006 DT63 2006-04-29 0.267903 120 22.25 24 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EY 2006-05-04 0.048691 31 25.16 21 - past obs. - (29 March)
2002 GK1 2006-05-05 0.004309 114 22.36 6 - faint recov. poss. - (22 Jan.)
2002 GD10 2006-05-11 0.060027 121 22.23 85 - faint recov. poss. - (15 Dec.)
2006 FH 2006-05-16 0.046704 43 24.48 6 - (29 March)
2006 CL9 2006-05-26 0.039810 97 22.72 47 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 CW 2006-06-01 0.153258 110 22.45 45 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 FH36 2006-06-04 0.015537 87 22.95 1 - (3 April)
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035667 111 22.43 26 - past obs. - (4 Feb.)
Coming into view soon:
2002 FT6 2006-05-01 0.040999 120 22.26 3op - >4 April - (11 Feb.)
2003 SN214 2006-05-09 0.074328 87 22.94 34 - >3 April - (11 Feb.)
Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 FH36 2006-06-04 0.015537 87 22.95 1 - (3 April)
2006 FW33 2006-04-11 0.065878 320 20.12 3 - risk listed - nominally not small - (29 March)
2006 FL10 2006-04-25 2 - nominally not small - (29 March)
2006 FW 2006-04-03 0.087012 93 22.81 4 - was risk listed - (30 March)
2006 FV 2006-04-25 0.108320 82 23.07 5 - (29 March)
2006 FH 2006-05-16 0.046704 43 24.48 6 - (29 March)
2006 EK53 2006-04-05 0.013657 84 23.03 14 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EJ53 2006-04-06 0.286309 114 22.36 17 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EW52 2006-04-09 0.143728 126 22.14 20 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EF1 2006-04-05 0.028321 91 22.86 4 - past obs. - (11 March)
2006 EB1 2006-04-16 0.035213 68 23.48 3 - past obs. - (12 March)
2006 EY 2006-05-04 0.048691 31 25.16 21 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EW 2006-04-09 0.029542 66 23.54 17 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 EE 2006-04-27 0.060515 70 23.41 8 - past obs. - (12 March)
2006 DT63 2006-04-29 0.267903 120 22.25 24 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 DD42 2006-04-05 0.127327 56 23.92 29 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 DN 2006-04-15 0.004389 43 24.48 32 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 DM 2006-04-12 0.078535 51 24.09 31 - past obs. - (29 Feb.)
2006 CL9 2006-05-26 0.039810 97 22.72 47 - past obs. - (29 March)
2006 CW 2006-06-01 0.153258 110 22.45 45 - past obs. - (29 March)
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035667 111 22.43 26 - past obs. - (4 Feb.)
2005 XO4 2006-04-20 0.021856 126 22.14 23 - past obs. - (7 Jan.)
2003 SN214 2006-05-09 0.074328 87 22.94 34 - >3 April - (11 Feb.)
2003 FK1 2006-04-14 0.013874 112 22.41 8 - faint recov. poss. - (22 Jan.)
2002 GD10 2006-05-11 0.060027 121 22.23 85 - faint recov. poss. - (15 Dec.)
2002 GK1 2006-05-05 0.004309 114 22.36 6 - faint recov. poss. - (22 Jan.)
2002 FT6 2006-05-01 0.040999 120 22.26 3op - >4 April - (11 Feb.)
Out-of-view date based on MPES solar elongation <40° and/or magnitude V>22.0 at 1200 UT.
(Not factored in is any lunar interference with viewing.)
Objects are linked in the left-most column only if observed in the last seven days,
while objects with earlier small-object reporting are linked under "Notes."
Diameter ("Dia") is in meters, a very rough estimate from brightness (H).
Observing "Arc" is from MPES in days or number of oppositions.
Small object observation cross index [ size order | 48 Hours | viewing | top ]
[ object listings |
index |
48 Hours |
viewing |
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