Earth's Busy Neighborhood
ACC's Small Object Report for 5-11 June 2006
A semi-automated report compiled on 11 June 2006 at 2359 UTC
There are nine small asteroids reported in the last 168 hours, during which one was newly discovered.
Currently 1,066 NEAs are listed with H>22.0 by JPL and/or the MPC (888 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 in the future. They present a sampling of distant asteroid
populations and 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 ]
- Week in Review: One small asteroid was discovered this past week, by the Mt. Lemmon Survey in Arizona, six others were observed, two were reported from May, and one was found in the archives from 2001, causing it to be delisted this week as an impact risk. At least one other small asteroid was in the neighborhood, passing by this year unseen in the daytime sky.
Despite the brightening Moon, nine observing facilities participated in the week's work, led by Great Shefford Observatory in England, which provided astrometry for five small asteroids, one facility reported the May observations, and two other facilities were in the archival work.
- June 11: The Sunday Daily Orbit Update (DOU) MPEC 2006-L49 reports observation of one small asteroid. Great Shefford Observatory in England added five days to the four-day observation arc of 2006 LH.
- June 10: Saturday DOU MPEC 2006-L43 reports observations of two small asteroids. 2006 LC was observed by Modra Observatory Thursday night and Great Shefford Observatory last night. And someone found 2001 UF5 in the archives of JPL's NEAT program from two telescopes within this object's observation arc in October 2001, with the result that it was removed today as an impact risk.
[Updated & corrected] 2001 UF5 was discovered by LINEAR from New Mexico on 20 October 2001 and was last observed by Linz Observatory in Austria on October 26th of that year. Until today it had been listed by NEODyS as an impact risk with a single very low-rated impact solution in 2052. The European Spaceguard Central Node reports a recovery opportunity for this object with large telescopes in December 2008. Updates: A/CC has been informed that these additional observations were provided by Sergio Foglia, Giuseppe Forti, and Maura Tombelli. They added 1.982 days to what had been a 6.504-day observing arc with their precovery work.
Passers-by: There are two known asteroids currently within ten lunar distances (LD) of Earth. Both are small objects but only one has been in view. 2003 YN107 is at its closest today (see JPL's orbit viewer), calculated by JPL to come to a distance of 8.68 LD at 1014 UT. At that time 2006 LM will still be closer, at about 6.6 LD and headed away from its June 7th 3.7-LD Earth passage. It was last reported observed that same day, while 2003 YN107 hasn't been seen since March 31st of last year. 2003 YN107 is passing by inside Earth's orbit, in the daytime sky and out of view for ground-based optical telescopes.
Both objects will have exited the 10-LD bubble by June 19th. Although objects are probably always passing through unnoticed, no others are expected until 2004 XP14 enters on the last day of the month, headed for a 1.13-LD rendezvous on July 3rd. At an estimated diameter of nearly half a kilometer, 2004 XP14 is by no means "small." It was listed and finally eliminated as an impact risk early last year based on optical observations, and is scheduled to be well observed by radar during this close encounter.
Update: 2003 YN107 is classified as an "Earth co-orbital" object. See a Science@NASA 9 June 2006 news article.
- June 9: No observations of small asteroids are reported in Friday's DOU MPEC.
- June 8: Thursday's DOU MPEC 2006-L37 reports observations of two small asteroids. Great Shefford Observatory added four days to the three-day observing arc for 2006 LC, and the Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales extended 2006 LM's two-day arc by two days.
- June 7: DOU MPEC 2006-L34 for Wednesday reports observation of one small asteroid, 2006 KY67, from Great Shefford Observatory.
- June 6: The reports observations of five small asteroids. The Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona was used to add about six days to what had been 2006 KQ1's ten day observation arc, and that telescope and Great Shefford Observatory reported more observations from just beyond and within the discovery arc for 2006 LH. Also tracked was 2006 KC40 from UKAPP in Northern Ireland working the Faulkes North Telescope in Hawaii, and 2006 KB1 and 2006 KC are reported from Pic du Midi Obsersvatory in France from late May.
- June 5 #2: The discovery of 2006 LH has been announced today. The Mt. Lemmon Survey in Arizona found it June 1st and it was confirmed on the 2nd, the 4th, and this morning.
- June 5 #1: Moday's DOU MPEC 2006-L26 carries observations of three small asteroids. Great Shefford Observatory and Jim Young at Table Mountain Observatory in southern California observed 2006 LM last night and this morning. And 2006 KC40 was reported from Great Shefford and 2006 KY67 from Farpoint Observatory in Kansas.
- Read a brief report about distant small asteroids and see news from the week of 29 May-4 June. There is also news from previous weeks, and you can look up individual objects.
Object Listings -- smallest objects first [ Alpha Index | 48 Hours | top ]
2006 LM (K06L00M) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 33 meters per JPL H=25.06, MPC H=25.0
JPL classifies 2006 LM as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.008222 AU (3.20 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 3.7 lunar distances (LD) on 7 June 2006 at 1632 UT.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L26 and 2006-L37:
Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) [703]
2006-06-04 0850-0854, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-06-04 2306-2311, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
Table Mountain Obs. [673{5}] coded to Jim Young
2006-06-05 0437-0459, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-06-07 1447-1448, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-L37, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
2006 LH (K06L00H) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 36 meters per JPL H=24.87, MPC H=24.8
JPL classifies 2006 LH as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.008640 AU (3.36 LD),
and reports this object will pass Earth at 10.7 LD on 16 June 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L29, 2006-L33,
and 2006-L49:
Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) [G96]
2006-06-01 0805-1011, 8 pos. in MPEC 2006-L29, discovery (*)
2006-06-04 0830-0834, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L29, confirmation
2006-06-05 1014-1017, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L29, confirmation
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-06-02 0957-1044, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L29, confirmation (H)
2006-06-05 1040-1046, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up (H)
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-06-03 0042-0114, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up
2006-06-04 2330-0004, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up
2006-06-10 0037-0037, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-L49, follow-up
2006-06-10 0155-0159, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L49, follow-up
2006 KB1 (K06K01B) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 45 meters per JPL H=24.40, MPC H=24.4
JPL classifies 2006 KB1 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.005867 AU (2.28 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 2.9 LD on 17 May 2006 at 2250 UT.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KB1 has significant MOIDs with planets Mars (0.02665 AU =
10.37 LD) and Jupiter (0.8275 AU = 322.0 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L33:
Pic du Midi Obs. [586]
2006-05-22 2345-0033, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 28 May 2006.
2006 LC (K06L00C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 75 meters per JPL H=23.27, MPC H=23.3
JPL classifies 2006 LC as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.030584 AU (11.90 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 16.7 LD on 9 June 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L37 and 2006-L43:
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-06-07 2200-2204, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L37, follow-up
2006-06-09 2328-2335, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, follow-up
Modra Obs. [118]
2006-06-08 2058-2107, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
2006 KC40 (K06K40C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 78 meters per JPL H=23.18, MPC H=23.1
This object was listed from 28 May until 4 June 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2006 KC40 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.026586 AU (10.34 LD),
and reports this object will pass Earth at 19.7 LD on 22 June 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KC40 has an MOID of 0.03456 AU (13.45 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L26 and 2006-L33:
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-05-31 0056-0056, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
2006-06-02 2334-2357, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
Faulkes Telescope North [F65{1}] coded to UKAPP
2006-06-05 0725-0727, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
2006 KY67 (K06K67Y) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 86 meters per JPL H=22.97, MPC H=23.1
This object was listed from 28 until 30 May 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2006 KY67 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.021065 AU (8.20 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 17.5 LD on 6 June 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KY67 has an MOID of 0.04715 AU (18.35 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L26 and 2006-L34:
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-06-04 0657-0707, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L26, follow-up
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-06-05 2341-2349, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L34, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
2001 UF5 (K01U05F) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 108 meters per JPL H=22.48, MPC H=22.7
This object was listed until 10 June 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2001 UF5 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.005872 AU (2.28 LD).
Lowell Observatory reports 2001 UF5 has significant MOIDs with planets Venus (0.00019 AU =
0.07 LD) and Mars (0.00121 AU = 0.47 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L43:
NEAT's Mt. Palomar telescope [644]
2001-10-18 0647-0750, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, precovery
2001-10-20 1012-1012, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, archival
2001-10-24 0639-0639, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, archival (t)
NEAT's telescope on Haleakala [608]
2001-10-20 0749-0804, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L43, archival
2006 KC (K06K00C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 122 meters per JPL H=22.21, MPC H=22.2
JPL classifies 2006 KC as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.032114 AU (12.50 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 16.3 LD on 10 May 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L33:
Pic du Midi Obs. [586]
2006-05-23 2355-0034, 16 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
2006 KQ1 (K06K01Q) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 134 meters per JPL H=22.01, MPC H=22.0
This object was listed from 23 until 24 May 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2006 KQ1 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.048206 AU (18.76 LD).
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KQ1 has an MOID of 0.01254 AU (4.88 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L33:
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-06-05 0747-0758, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L33, follow-up (H)
See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006.
48+120 Hours [ Objects Listings (size order) | Object Index (alpha/xref) | top ]
Observations of nine small objects were reported during the last 168 hours:
2001 UF5, 2006 KB1, 2006 KC, 2006 KC40, 2006 KQ1, 2006 KY67, 2006 LC, 2006 LH
& 2006 LM
in MPECs:
2006-L26 time-stamped 2006 June 5, 06:14 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-L29 time-stamped 2006 June 5, 16:42 UT - 2006 LH
2006-L33 time-stamped 2006 June 6, 06:13 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-L34 time-stamped 2006 June 7, 08:21 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-L37 time-stamped 2006 June 8, 06:14 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-L43 time-stamped 2006 June 10, 06:13 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-L49 time-stamped 2006 June 11, 06:14 UT - Daily Orbit Update
Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page:
JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 June 11, 1231 UTC
JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 June 11, 1235 UTC
Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 Jun 11 1211:13 UTC
MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 June 11, 1228 UTC
Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 June 11, 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 18 small objects as being currently in view,
including 12 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 KS1 2006-06-12 0.024266 28 25.39 9 - past obs. - (31 May)
2006 LM 2006-06-14 0.008222 33 25.06 4 - (8 June)
2006 LH 2006-06-17 0.008640 36 24.87 9 - (11 June)
2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032114 122 22.21 11 - (6 June)
2006 LD 2006-06-20 0.094235 68 23.48 1 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 KY67 2006-06-20 0.021065 86 22.97 11 - was risk listed - (7 June)
2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - past obs. - (18 May)
2006 KK89 2006-06-24 0.101248 109 22.46 2 - past obs. - (30 May)
2006 LC 2006-06-24 0.030584 75 23.27 9 - (10 June)
2006 KC40 2006-06-27 0.026586 78 23.18 11 - was risk listed - (6 June)
1997 YM9 2006-06-28 0.029668 45 24.36 2op - aka 2005 YM128 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 LB 2006-07-02 0.122414 60 23.77 1 - past obs. - (2 June)
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May)
2006 KL103 2006-07-14 0.025073 27 25.50 3 - past obs. - (3 June)
2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.146082 62 23.69 3 - past obs. - (4 June)
2006 KJ89 2006-08-04 0.092149 59 23.79 7 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 KK103 2006-08-28 0.146319 107 22.51 9 - past obs. - (4 June)
1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April)
Coming into view soon:
2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - >14 June, faint recov. poss. - (30 April)
Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 LM 2006-06-14 0.008222 33 25.06 4 - (8 June)
2006 LH 2006-06-17 0.008640 36 24.87 9 - (11 June)
2006 LD 2006-06-20 0.094235 68 23.48 1 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 LC 2006-06-24 0.030584 75 23.27 9 - (10 June)
2006 LB 2006-07-02 0.122414 60 23.77 1 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 KL103 2006-07-14 0.025073 27 25.50 3 - past obs. - (3 June)
2006 KK103 2006-08-28 0.146319 107 22.51 9 - past obs. - (4 June)
2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.146082 62 23.69 3 - past obs. - (4 June)
2006 KK89 2006-06-24 0.101248 109 22.46 2 - past obs. - (30 May)
2006 KJ89 2006-08-04 0.092149 59 23.79 7 - past obs. - (2 June)
2006 KY67 2006-06-20 0.021065 86 22.97 11 - was risk listed - (7 June)
2006 KC40 2006-06-27 0.026586 78 23.18 11 - was risk listed - (6 June)
2006 KS1 2006-06-12 0.024266 28 25.39 9 - past obs. - (31 May)
2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032114 122 22.21 11 - (6 June)
2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - past obs. - (18 May)
1997 YM9 2006-06-28 0.029668 45 24.36 2op - aka 2005 YM128 - past obs. - (2 June)
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May)
2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - >14 June, faint recov. poss. - (30 April)
1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April)
Out-of-view date based on MPES solar elongation <40° and/or magnitude V>22.0 at 1200 UT
geocentric. (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.
"In view" does not necessarily mean locatable for objects with short arcs in prior years
and for which a large search or accidental rediscovery are the best hopes.
Small object observation cross index [ size order | 48 Hours | viewing | top ]
[ object listings |
index |
48 Hours |
viewing |
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