In May last year two University of Arizona undergrads were awarded NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Student Fellows Prizes -- Rigel Woida (left) in regard to Mars terraforming, and engineering physics major and cosmochemistry student Daniella Della-Giustina about using near-Earth asteroids as radiation shielding for human travel to Mars -- examples of NIAC's futuristic work that is now being closed down. See news below. Credit Univ. of Arizona.
Contents on 3 July '07
- Minor-Object News -- three items
- Minor-Object Science -- four papers
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity
- New MPECs -- nine MPECs
- Observers -- ten observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- one object reported
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - CRT page
- Ephemerides for risk-rated objects
- Ephemerides for small asteroids
Navigation tips: Use the << and >> arrows on the menus for each regular section (Observers, Risks, etc.) to move to the previous and next day's news for that section. Use the Index menu item to access specific days this year with a calendar interface. And use the all-up news archive to access news anytime since A/CC began in early 2002. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.
Minor-Object News on 3 July '07
- "Dawn ELV Status report," NASA KSC 3 July - Quote: "The [Dawn] flight readiness review was completed on Tuesday. All technical issues were cleared. Mission managers will hold a teleconference on Wednesday to discuss the availability of telemetry assets. If it is determined there are sufficient aircraft and ship assets available, the team will proceed with propellant loading on Thursday."
- "The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is Closing," NIAC at SpaceRef.com 2 July - Quote: "Since 1998, NIAC has set new targets for man's future in space by seeking out and funding proposals for revolutionary aeronautics and space concepts... NASA, faced with the constraints of achieving the Vision for Space Exploration, has made the difficult decision to terminate NIAC... Effective August 31, 2007, the NIAC will cease operations." - Note: The NAIC statement is directly available as a 17Kb PDF.
- "Gaia Payload Animation," ESA Gaia mission Picture of the Week 2 July - Quote: "As can be seen in the animation, Gaia's payload concept features two telescopes sharing a common focal plane." - Note: See also the ESA Gaia Payload Module pages for additional explanation about the hardware this astrometric and photometric mission will use to accomplish its goals.
Minor-Object Science on 3 July '07
- "High spatial resolution mid-infrared observations of the low-mass young star TW Hya" by Ratzka, Th. with Ch. Leinert, Th. Henning & 3 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 3 July - Quote: "We want to improve knowledge of the structure of the inner few AU of the circumstellar disk around the nearby T Tauri star TW Hya... [We] may be witnessing the end of the accretion phase and an early phase of an inward-out dispersal of the circumstellar disk."
- "Probing the Dust and Gas in the Transitional Disk of CS Cha with Spitzer" by Espaillat, Catherine with Nuria Calvet, Paola D'Alessio & 10 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 3 July - Quote: "Here we present the Spitzer IRS spectrum of CS Cha, a member of the ~2 Myr old Chamaeleon star-forming region, which reveals an optically thick circumstellar disk truncated at ~43 AU, the largest hole modeled in a transitional disk to date... [The] disk of CS Cha has bigger grain sizes and more settling than the previously modeled transitional disks DM Tau, GM Aur, and CoKu Tau/4, suggesting that CS Cha is in a more advanced state of dust evolution."
- "Star formation in young star cluster NGC 1893" by Sharma, Saurabh with A.K. Pandey, D.K. Ojha & 5 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 3 July - Quote: "We present a comprehensive multi-wavelength study of the star-forming region NGC 1893 to explore the effects of massive stars on low-mass star formation."
- "The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Legacy Survey of Nearby Star-forming Regions in the Gould Belt" by Ward-Thompson, D. with J. Di Francesco, J. Hatchell & 59 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 3 July - Quote: "In this survey we will map with SCUBA-2 ... almost all of the well-known low-mass and intermediate-mass star-forming regions within 0.5 kpc that are accessible from the JCMT. Most of these locations are associated with the Gould Belt... The resulting images will yield the first catalogue of prestellar and protostellar sources selected by submillimetre continuum emission."
NEOCP Activity on 3 July '07
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page is currently empty
The NEOCP is currently empty and hasn't been noted by Major News as active yet today (last checked at 2354 UTC).
New MPECs on 3 July '07
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2354 UTC, there have been nine MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2007-N03 time-stamped "06:06 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2007-N04 time-stamped "17:49 UT" - Observable Comets - see below
- MPEC 2007-N05 time-stamped "18:12 UT" - Distant Minor Planets - see below
- MPEC 2007-N06 time-stamped "18:18 UT" - Critical-List Minor Planets - see below
- MPEC 2007-N07 time-stamped "18:24 UT" - Atens and Apollos - see below
- MPEC 2007-N08 time-stamped "18:24 UT" - Amors - see below
- MPEC 2007-N09 time-stamped "18:24 UT" - Unusual Minor Planets - see below
- MPEC 2007-N10 time-stamped "18:24 UT" - PHAs - see below
- MPEC 2007-N11 time-stamped "23:33 UT" - 2006 HW122
MPEC 2007-N11 - "23:33 UT" - 2006 HW122
- K06HC2W 2006 HW122 (q=43.790 AU, Q=47.387 AU, H=6.1 ~204 km) from Lawrence H. Wasserman via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. (CTIO) (April 21.20p1 & 22.27p1)
MPEC 2007-N10 - "18:24 UT" - PHAs
MPEC 2007-N09 - "18:24 UT" - Unusual Minor Planets
MPEC 2007-N08 - "18:24 UT" - Amors
MPEC 2007-N07 - "18:24 UT" - Atens and Apollos
MPEC 2007-N06 - "18:18 UT" - Critical-List Minor Planets
MPEC 2007-N05 - "18:12 UT" - Distant Minor Planets
MPEC 2007-N04 - "17:49 UT" - Observable Comets
<< DOU on 3 July '07 >> MPEC 2007-N03 - "06:06 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K07L19Q 2007 LQ19 (Q=4.242 AU, arc=19 days, H=17.8 ~933m) from the Siding Spring Survey (SSS) (July 2.82-83p2)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K07L19T 2007 LT19 (arc=17 days, H=25.4 ~28m) from Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (July 2.31p2)
- K07K02D 2007 KD2 (Q=4.433 AU, arc=45 days, H=23.2 ~78m) from ARO (July 2.17p4)
- Observations of other objects
- K07M24B 2007 MB24 (i=47.7°, arc=9 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from ARO (July 2.22-23p6) and Montcabre Obs. (July 2.92p4)
- K07M20T 2007 MT20 (arc=9 days, H=18.3 ~741m) from ARO (July 2.21-22p6), Sandlot Obs. (July 2.28p4), and Santa Mama Obs. (July 2.89-92p5)
- K07M13M 2007 MM13 (i=38.0°, arc=10 days, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from Santa Mama Obs. (July 2.83-87p4)
- K07M13L 2007 ML13 (arc=10 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from ARO (July 2.13-14p5)
- K07L00S 2007 LS (Q=4.542 AU, arc=24 days, H=17.7 ~977m) from ARO (July 2.11-12p3)
- K07K00J 2007 KJ (arc=47 days, H=18.9 ~562m) from ARO (July 2.12-13p3)
- K07H82X 2007 HX82 (Q=4.096 AU, arc=67 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from ARO (July 2.16p4)
- K07H70D 2007 HD70 (arc=68 days, H=21.0 ~214m) from ARO (July 2.29p3)
- K07G00C 2007 GC (arc=86 days, H=21.3 ~186m) from ARO (July 2.20-21p3)
- K07DA3T 2007 DT103 (arc=116 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Tim Spahr via Whipple Obs. (June 22.17-19p2)
- K07C26O 2007 CO26 (Q=4.508 AU, arc=58 days, H=21.3 ~186m) from New Millennium Obs. (March 13.96-11p13)
- K07C26K 2007 CK26 (arc=134 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.27-28p4 & 22.28-29p2)
- K06X00A 2006 XA (arc=213 days, H=17.4 ~1.12 km) from ARO (July 2.28-29p5)
- K06WC7P 2006 WP127 (Q=4.477 AU, arc=3 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.44p2)
- K06W03N 2006 WN3 (arc=212 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 20.19p2)
- K05N44W 2005 NW44 (arc=2 opp, H=20.4 ~282m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 20.39p2)
- K05G00G 2005 GG (arc=3 opp, H=16.0 ~2.14 km, q=0.694 AU) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.44-45p2 & 22.46p2)
- K03WF3X 2003 WX153 (arc=3 opp, H=17.9 ~891m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.18-19p2)
- K02E09Q 2002 EQ9 (arc=3 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from ARO (July 2.32-34p4)
- K00K43X 2000 KX43 (arc=3 opp, H=19.2 ~490m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.26p2)
- K00H14O 2000 HO14 (arc=3 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from Spahr/Whipple (June 22.44p2)
- J94A01B 1994 AB1 (Q=4.527 AU, arc=5 opp, H=16.5 ~1.70 km) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.37-38p2)
- F4007 154007 2002 BY from New Millennium Obs. (March 13.96-10p13)
- D8883 138883 2000 YL29 from Moletai Obs. (April 15.85-86p4)
- 86878 86878 2000 HD24 from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.41p2)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from Bolzaneto Obs. (July 1.86-89p3) and Santa Mama Obs. (July 2.93-95p3)
- 24443 24443 2000 OG from Spahr/Whipple (June 20.25p2)
- 21277 21277 1996 TO5 from Spahr/Whipple (June 22.42-43p2)
- 16636 16636 1993 QP from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.40-41p2)
- 09172 9172 Abhramu (1989 OB) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.47p2)
- 06037 6037 1988 EG from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.25p2)
- 04544 4544 Xanthus (1989 FB) from New Millennium Obs. (March 13.95-10p13)
- 03199 3199 Nefertiti (1982 RA) from New Millennium Obs. (March 13.95-12p13)
- 02101 2101 Adonis (1936 CA) from Spahr/Whipple (June 21.24p2)
Observers on 3 July '07
Ten observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. in Illinois, 12 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 LT19, 2007 KD2, 2007 MB24, 2007 MT20, 2007 ML13, 2007 LS, 2007 KJ, 2007 HX82, 2007 HD70, 2007 GC, 2006 XA, 2002 EQ9 |
| A88 | Bolzaneto Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 85275 |
| 807& | Lawrence H. Wasserman via Cerro Tololo Inter-American Obs. in Chile, 1 in MPEC 2007-N11 -- 2006 HW122 |
| 152 | Moletai Obs. in Lithuania, 1 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 138883 |
| 213 | Montcabre Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 MB24 |
| A24 | New Millennium Obs. in Italy, 4 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 CO26, 154007, 4544, 3199 |
| H36 | Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 MT20 |
| B38 | Santa Mama Obs. in Italy, 3 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 MT20, 2007 MM13, 85275 |
| E12 | Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales, 1 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 LQ19 |
| 6967 | Tim Spahr via Whipple Obs. in Arizona, 17 in MPEC 2007-N03 -- 2007 DT103, 2007 CK26, 2006 WP127, 2006 WN3, 2005 NW44, 2005 GG, 2003 WX153, 2000 KX43, 2000 HO14, 1994 AB1, 86878, 24443, 21277, 16636, 9172, 6037, 2101 |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 3 July '07
| 0000NNN000 Object | Risk Monitor | When Noted UTC | 0000T0000 Year Range | VI # | 000NN00 Prob Cum | T0000 PS Cum | T0000 PS Max | T S | Notes for Today's Latest Risk Assessments |
| 2007 LQ19 | JPL | 2204 | 2082 | 1 | 1.8e-06 | -2.39 | -2.39 | 1 | JPL: "Analysis based on 18 observations spanning 19.042 days (2007-Jun-13.78733 to 2007-Jul-02.82941)." Diameter approximately 0.930 km. from mean, weighted H=17.8. |
| NEODyS | 1350 | 2082 | 1 | 2.1e-06 | -2.34 | -2.34 | 1 | NEODyS: "Based on 18 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/06/13.788 to 2007/07/02.830. NOTE: The Virtual Impactor in 2082/07/11.625 in the table above is rated as Torino Scale 1." | |
Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale
An impact solution, also known as a "virtual impactor" (VI), is not a prediction but rather a possibility derived from an orbit calculation that cannot be eliminated yet based on the existing data. Elimination can come quickly with just a little further observation or may take weeks or months, sometimes years. Once superceded or eliminated, a former impact solution has zero relevance to an object's risk. See Jon Giorgini's "Understanding Risk Pages" for more about this.
Chronology on 3 July '07
Times are UTC for when the items were noted by Major News.
| 2354 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-N11 - 2006 HW122 - see above |
| 2240 | Added link to news story, "Dawn ELV Status report" |
| 2205 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-N05 - Distant Minor Planets - see above |
| 2204 | Noted that JPL has updated its 2007 LQ19 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N04 - Observable Comets - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N06 - Critical-List Minor Planets - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N07 - Atens and Apollos - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N08 - Amors - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N09 - Unusual Minor Planets - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N10 - PHAs - see above |
| 1352 | Added MOS paper, "High spatial resolution mid-infrared observations of the low-mass young star TW Hya" - see above Added MOS paper, "Probing the Dust and Gas in the Transitional Disk of CS Cha with Spitzer" - see above Added MOS paper, "Star formation in young star cluster NGC 1893" - see above Added MOS paper, "The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope Legacy Survey of Nearby Star-forming Regions in the Gould Belt" - see above Added link to news story, "Gaia Payload Animation" Added link to news story, "The NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) is Closing" |
| 1350 | Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2007 LQ19 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-N03 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
Publisher information, privacy statement, and disclaimer.
This page is © Copyright 2007 Columbine, Inc. - All Rights Reserved
Any mentioned trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Various tabular formats and data used on this page are acknowledged as belonging to JPL, MPC, NEODyS, and/or others.
Do NOT copy, mirror, or embed this page, but you are welcome to link to it, and you may embed the RSS news feed. All information here is subject to very frequent change during the day of news compilation. Individuals may make copies for their own private, non-commercial use. Please report broken links or other problems with this page to <webmaster@hohmanntransfer.com> (HTML 4.01 validation).
Important updates to Major News About Minor Objects are flagged by RSS news feed (link)