Earth's Busy Neighborhood
ACC's Small Object Report for 26 June - 2 July 2006
A semi-automated report compiled on 2 July 2006 at 2359 UTC
There are five* small asteroids reported in the last 168 hours, during which one was newly discovered.
Currently 1,070 NEAs are listed with H>22.0 by JPL and/or the MPC (891 are listed as such by both).
*This week's report also includes one larger asteroid passing close by.
[ 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: This past week one small asteroid was discovered, found by LINEAR in Massachusetts observing from New Mexico, and four others were observed. Nine observing facilities participated in this work, led by Farpoint Observatory in Kansas which reported four objects. Additionally, two other facilities, the Siding Spring Survey in Australia and CEAMIG-REA in Brazil, are noted in the week's work for advanced observations of larger asteroid 2004 XP14, which was inbound for a close passage as reported below.
- July 2: On Sunday the Daily Orbit Update (DOU) MPEC 2006-N04 reports observation of two small asteroids. Additional astrometry for LINEAR discovery 2006 MB14 is reported from LINEAR within the discovery arc (see yesterday's news immediately below), and Andrushivka Observatory in the Ukraine observed 2006 MB on three nights during 26-30 June.
- July 1: On Saturday the discovery of small asteroid 2006 MB14 has been announced. It was found by LINEAR with its New Mexico observing facility on June 30th, almost exactly two days after passing Earth at 1.7 lunar distances (LD), and the discovery was confirmed overnight by six observatories in Europe and the U.S. This object is predicted to remain in view for many NEO observers for another week-plus and until the end of the month for larger telescopes.
Update: Passing objects may come closer to the Moon than us, but queries to JPL's Horizons On-Line Ephemeris System get a calculation currently of 2.66 LD for 2006 MB14's June 28th lunar passage.
Today's DOU MPEC 2006-N01 reports observation of two small asteroids. The Nordic Near-Earth-Object Network (NEON), viewing from La Palma in the Canary Islands, added about three days to what had been the 29-day observing arc for 2006 KJ89, and Consell Observatory in Spain added four days to 2006 MB's previous nine-day arc.
- June 30: No observations of small asteroids have been reported Friday.
- June 29: No observations of small asteroids are reported in the Thursday DOU MPEC 2006-M49, but asteroid 2004 XP14 is coming into the neighborhood and is reported from the Siding Spring Survey in Australia and CEAMIG-REA in Brazil. Southern hemisphere observing facilities are helping JPL to prepare the final path prediction for radar observing that will begin just before this object's closest approach on July 3rd. JPL's 2004 XP14 Planning page reports that radar observing will involve radio telescopes in southern California, the Ukraine, and Italy. 2004 XP14 won't be in view for the world's most powerful radar, Arecibo in Puerto Rico, but this will be the closest and strongest asteroid radar target ever observed.
- June 28: No observations of small asteroids have been reported Wednesday.
- June 27: Tuesday's DOU MPEC 2006-M46 reports observation of three small asteroids. Farpoint Observatory in Kansas provided the first follow-up for 2006 MH10, adding about four days to its one-day observing arc, and also added three days each to 2006 MY1's four-day, and 2006 MB's six-day, arc.
Not a small asteroid but definitely part of Earth's Busy Neighborhood, 2004 XP14 is inbound for an Earth passage of 1.13 lunar distances on July 3rd UT. This is unusually close for an object of its diameter, estimated to be on the order of 465 meters. Today's DOU reports that the Siding Spring Survey in Australia recovered it yesterday (you can see this data for yourself; look for "packed" designation K04X14P and observatory code E12). This object was for awhile listed as an impact risk, and was observed at various times last year up until December 29th, when it had an observing arc of 384 days. Yesterday's work added another 180 days. (See also a news thread on recent and coming passers-by.)
- June 26: No observations of small asteroids have been reported Monday.
- See news from the week of 19-25 June and from previous weeks, and you also can look up individual objects.
Object Listings -- smallest objects first [ Alpha Index | 48 Hours | top ]
2006 MB14 (K06M14B) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 30 meters per JPL H=25.27, MPC H=25.4
JPL classifies 2006 MB14 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.004583 AU (1.78 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-N02 and 2006-N04:
LINEAR [704]
2006-06-30 0618-0714, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, discovery (*)
2006-07-01 0533-0619, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-N04, follow-up
Consell Obs. [176]
2006-06-30 2255-2304, 10 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
Farra d'Isonzo Obs. [595]
2006-06-30 2345-0007, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
Gnosca Obs. [143]
2006-07-01 0025-0035, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-07-01 0515-0522, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) [703]
2006-07-01 0631-0722, 7 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
Sabino Canyon Obs. [854]
2006-07-01 0820-0835, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-N02, confirmation
2006 KJ89 (K06K89J) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 58 meters per JPL H=23.85, MPC H=23.8
JPL classifies 2006 KJ89 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.093094 AU (36.22 LD).
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KJ89 has an MOID of 0.03505 AU (13.64 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-N01:
Nordic Near-Earth-Object Network (NEON) [J50]
2006-06-27 0034-0105, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-N01, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 25 June 2006.
2006 MB (K06M00B) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 104 meters per JPL H=22.56, MPC H=22.5
JPL classifies 2006 MB as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.062514 AU (24.32 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-M46, 2006-N01,
and 2006-N04:
Andrushivka Obs. [A50]
2006-06-25 2336-2350, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
2006-06-26 2250-2259, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-N04, follow-up
2006-06-27 2251-2301, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-N04, follow-up
2006-06-30 2319-2327, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-N04, follow-up
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-06-27 0428-0437, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
Consell Obs. [176]
2006-06-30 2130-2143, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-N01, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 25 June 2006.
2006 MY1 (K06M01Y) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 116 meters per JPL H=22.33, MPC H=22.3
JPL classifies 2006 MY1 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.147149 AU (57.26 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-M46:
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-06-27 0342-0408, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 25 June 2006.
2006 MH10 (K06M10H) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 117 meters per JPL H=22.30, MPC H=22.4
JPL classifies 2006 MH10 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.125218 AU (48.72 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-M46:
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-06-26 0545-0555, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
2006-06-27 0310-0321, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 25 June 2006.
2004 XP14 (K04X14P) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 467 meters per JPL H=19.30, MPC H=19.4 -- not small
This object was listed from 11 Dec. 2004 until 17 March 2005 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2004 XP14 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.001799 AU (0.70 LD),
and reports this object will pass Earth at 1.1 lunar distances (LD) on 3 July 2006 at 0426 UT.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-M46 and 2006-M49:
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-06-26 1951-1954, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-M46, follow-up
2006-06-27 1952-1955, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-M49, follow-up
2006-06-28 1958-1959, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-M49, follow-up
CEAMIG-REA [I77]
2006-06-28 0829-0839, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M49, follow-up
48+120 Hours [ Objects Listings (size order) | Object Index (alpha/xref) | top ]
Observations of five small objects were reported during the last 168 hours:
2006 KJ89, 2006 MB, 2006 MB14, 2006 MH10 & 2006 MY1, plus larger 2004 XP14
in MPECs:
2006-M46 time-stamped 2006 June 27, 06:17 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-M49 time-stamped 2006 June 29, 06:17 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-N01 time-stamped 2006 July 1, 06:16 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-N02 time-stamped 2006 July 1, 12:08 UT - 2006 MB14
2006-N04 time-stamped 2006 July 2, 06:17 UT - Daily Orbit Update
Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page:
JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 July 1, 1511 UTC
JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 July 2, 1521 UTC
Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 Jul 01 1952:57 UTC
MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 July 2, 1511 UTC
Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 July 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 12 small objects as being currently in view, including 6 not
reported in the last 7 days, plus one larger asteroid observed and close by this week.
Viewing by date order - see this list also by designation order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May)
2006 MB14 2006-07-10 0.004583 30 25.27 1 - (2 July)
2006 KL103 2006-07-14 0.025073 27 25.50 3 - past obs. - (3 June)
2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - faint recov. poss. - (30 April)
2006 MY1 2006-07-24 0.147149 116 22.33 7 - (27 June)
2006 KJ89 2006-07-28 0.093094 58 23.85 7 - (1 July)
2006 MB 2006-07-31 0.062514 104 22.56 13 - (2 July)
2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.146410 62 23.67 22 - past obs. - (21 June)
2006 MH10 2006-08-24 0.125218 117 22.30 5 - (27 June)
2006 KK103 2006-08-28 0.146319 107 22.51 32 - past obs. - (4 June)
1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.028403 128 22.11 14 - faint recov. poss. - (30 April)
1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April)
2004 XP14 2008-11-17 0.001799 467 19.30 2op - was risk listed - NOT small! - (27 June)
Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 MB14 2006-07-10 0.004583 30 25.27 1 - (2 July)
2006 MH10 2006-08-24 0.125218 117 22.30 5 - (27 June)
2006 MY1 2006-07-24 0.147149 116 22.33 7 - (27 June)
2006 MB 2006-07-31 0.062514 104 22.56 13 - (2 July)
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 32 - past obs. - (4 June)
2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.146410 62 23.67 22 - past obs. - (21 June)
2006 KJ89 2006-07-28 0.093094 58 23.85 7 - (1 July)
2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May)
2004 XP14 2008-11-17 0.001799 467 19.30 2op - was risk listed - NOT small! - (27 June)
2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - faint recov. poss. - (30 April)
1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.028403 128 22.11 14 - 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 ]
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index |
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