On this day 13 years ago comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 began a six-day assault on Jupiter's southern hemisphere. In this blue-light image from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera-2, the dark spot 23 hours later from that first hit is located in the lower middle, flanked by two other fragment impact areas. These cloud disturbances can each be roughly compared to an Earth diameter in size. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is seen at upper right. Credit: John Clark/NASA HST.
Contents on 16 July '07
- Minor-Object News -- six items
- Minor-Object Science -- two papers
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- six listings: 1 new, 5 updated
- New MPECs -- three MPECs
- Observers -- 26 observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- nothing to report
- 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 16 July '07
- Kitt Peak update: The Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) Web site today replaced its special updates with a brief statement thanking firefighters and saying that the observatory "is back to normal operations for astronomers and the general public after the Alambre fire."
- "Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object," Suno Observatory 16 July - Quote: "When removed from the NEOCP, the inner-solar-system objects that get put on to MPECs are as follows: Any object with perihelion distance less than 1.3 AU, Any object with an perihelion distance beyond 5.5 AU [and] 'Main-belt' objects with eccentricities above 0.5."
- "Planets Go 'Splat' on Stars," Space.com 16 July - Quote: "As scientists began discovering exoplanets, or worlds orbiting distant stars, in the past decade, they found these planets were most often found around stars rich in iron... But are these stars rich in metals because planetary debris polluted them? Or do metal-loaded stars naturally spawn worlds?" - Note: See also the related preprint and ESO news release.
- "Kepler Team Cuts Costs, Avoids Cancellation," Space.com 16 July - Quote: "Threatened with cancellation, the team building NASA's Kepler planet-hunting [0.95m] telescope found a way get the spacecraft to the launch pad by early 2009 without a new infusion of cash... While reducing testing and cutting schedule reserves might sound like a recipe for failure, [NASA science chief Alan] Stern said neither action would put the success of the mission at risk."
- "One giant leap for space fashion: MIT team designs sleek, skintight spacesuit," MIT 16 July - Quote: "Instead of using gas pressurization, which exerts a force on the astronaut's body to protect it from the vacuum of space, the suit relies on mechanical counter-pressure... The trick is to make a suit that is skintight but stretches with the body, allowing freedom of movement... [If] a traditional spacesuit is punctured ... the astronaut must return ... immediately, before life-threatening decompression occurs. With the BioSuit, a small, isolated puncture can be wrapped much like a bandage, and the rest of the suit will be unaffected." - Note: See also Bio-Suit Overview.
- Discovery from Spain: A newly discovered object, designated 2007 NS2, has from the Minor Planet Center's preliminary calculation an orbit remarkably similar to that of Mars:
Object a e q Q i a = mean distance from Sun (Earth-to-Sun = 1 AU)
e = eccentricity (orbit non-circularness)
q & Q = min. & max. distance from Sun
i = inclination2007 NS2 1.5238679 AU 0.0538742 1.4417707 AU 1.6059651 AU 18.61868° Mars 1.5236623 AU 0.0934123 1.3813335 AU 1.6659912 AU 1.85061°
Discovery is credited to La Sagra Observatory in Spain early on July 14th UT -- see below. Prediscovery observations were also reported from Spacewatch with its 0.9-meter telescope in Arizona on June 24th and Chante-Perdrix Observatory in France before and after midnight 13-14 July.
Minor-Object Science on 16 July '07
- "First Steps in Direct Imaging of Planetary Systems Like our Own: The Science Potential of 2-m Class Optical Space Telescopes" by Stapelfeldt, Karl with John Trauger, Weslay Traub & 4 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 16 July - Quote: "While [coming observatories] will be remarkable scientific milestones, they fall well short of the goal of obtaining images and spectra of planetary systems like our own... High contrast imaging will detect and characterize warm giant planets, but not cool objects ... like our own Jupiter and Saturn in their orbits around a solar-type star. Sharp images of dusty debris disks will be obtained, but only those with optical depths ~>1000 times that of our own asteroid and Kuiper belts... What is currently missing from the 2015 exoplanetary science toolbox, and what we now describe, is an observatory that can study photons from these giant planets, and the terrestrial planets and exozodiacal dust clouds that may accompany them, around nearby stars like the Sun."
- "Embedded Star Formation in the Eagle Nebula with Spitzer/GLIMPSE" by Indebetouw, R. with T.R. Robitaille, B.A. Whitney & 5 others, abstract & PDF at arXiv.org 16 July - Quote: "Comparison of the different protostellar selection methods shows that mid-infrared methods are consistent, but as has been known for some time, near-infrared-only analysis misses some young objects. We reveal more than 400 protostellar candidates."
NEOCP Activity on 16 July '07
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 6 listings: 1 new, 5 updated
When last checked at 2356 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's NEO discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had one new and five updated listings. Of these, three were "one nighters." So far Major News has counted a total of nine objects listed on the NEOCP at some point today.
New MPECs on 16 July '07
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2356 UTC, there have been three MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2007-O01 time-stamped "01:12 UT" - 2003 MT9 - see below
- MPEC 2007-O02 time-stamped "06:06 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2007-O03 time-stamped "12:37 UT" - 2007 NS2
MPEC 2007-O03 - "12:37 UT" - 2007 NS2
- K07N02S 2007 NS2 (H=17.7 ~977m) was discovered at 0031 UT 14 July by La Sagra Obs., which observed it at July 14.02p1, 14.08p1, and 14.14p1. The discovery was confirmed by the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope (June 24.40-43p3), Chante-Perdrix Obs. (July 13.99-02p3 & 15.95-96p3), and Mallorca Obs. (July 14.93-95p6, 15.09-11p4 & 16.02-04p3).
<< DOU on 16 July '07 >> MPEC 2007-O02 - "06:06 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K07N01L 2007 NL1 (arc=3 days, H=22.0 ~135m) from Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (July 14.32-33p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K07N00Q 2007 NQ (arc=5 days, H=19.6 ~407m) from LINEAR (July 15.18-22p5) and Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) (July 15.19-20p9)
- K07M24B 2007 MB24 (i=47.7°, arc=22 days, H=18.4 ~708m) from PJMSO (July 15.31p1) and Herrenberg Obs. (July 15.89-90p3)
- K07M20T 2007 MT20 (arc=22 days, H=18.6 ~645m) from Klet Obs. (July 14.93-94p5), PJMSO (July 15.27p6), and Herrenberg Obs. (July 15.90-91p4)
- K07M13M 2007 MM13 (i=38.2°, arc=22 days, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from PJMSO (July 15.22-23p6)
- K07M13L 2007 ML13 (arc=23 days, H=20.2 ~309m) from PJMSO (July 15.21-22p6)
- K07M06L 2007 ML6 (arc=24 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from Tiki Obs. (July 14.59-63p3) and Klet Obs. (July 15.01p4)
- K07L32R 2007 LR32 (arc=51 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Klet Obs. (July 14.95p5), Frasso Sabino Obs. (July 14.99-00p6), Iluro Obs. (July 15.05-06p3), Greiner Research Obs. (July 15.22-24p9), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (July 15.61-65p9), and Eschenberg Obs. (July 15.89p7)
- K07L19V 2007 LV19 (arc=30 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from ARO (July 15.10p3)
- K07L15A 2007 LA15 (arc=32 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from PJMSO (July 15.20-21p6) and LINEAR (July 15.23-26p4)
- K07L08V 2007 LV8 (arc=33 days, H=20.1 ~323m) from PJMSO (July 15.26p6)
- K07L00S 2007 LS (Q=4.538 AU, arc=37 days, H=17.7 ~977m) from ARO (July 15.14p1)
- K07L00F 2007 LF (arc=38 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from PJMSO (July 15.28-30p4)
- K07H15E 2007 HE15 (arc=84 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from Greiner Research Obs. (July 15.38p3)
- K07DA3T 2007 DT103 (arc=140 days, H=18.9 ~562m) from Crimean Astrophysical Obs. (CrAO) (July 10.81-83p18) and Schiaparelli Obs. (July 15.88-89p3)
- K07D08K 2007 DK8 (arc=147 days, H=19.0 ~537m) from ARO (July 14.36p3)
- K07C26K 2007 CK26 (arc=2 opp, H=19.1 ~513m) from PJMSO (July 15.31-32p5)
- K06Y13C 2006 YC13 (arc=202 days, H=20.3 ~295m) from ARO (July 14.31-32p3)
- K06X00A 2006 XA (arc=227 days, H=17.3 ~1.17 km) from Naef Obs. (July 15.93-95p2)
- K06WC7P 2006 WP127 (Q=4.477 AU, arc=3 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from Tiki Obs. (July 14.63-65p2)
- K06W03N 2006 WN3 (arc=237 days, H=19.8 ~371m) from ARO (July 15.10-11p2)
- K06G00B 2006 GB (arc=2 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from PJMSO (July 15.16p5)
- K04S09T 2004 ST9 (arc=2 opp, H=18.0 ~851m) from PJMSO (July 15.32-33p5)
- K03M09T 2003 MT9 (q=0.200 AU, Q=4.874 AU, arc=2 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from Vallemare di Borbona Obs. (July 16.05p3)
- K03H02F 2003 HF2 (q=0.361 AU, arc=4 opp, H=19.6 ~407m) from Santa Mama Obs. (July 14.88-91p4), PJMSO (July 15.28p5), and Eschenberg Obs. (July 15.87p7)
- K01SH0E 2001 SE170 (arc=3 opp, H=18.2 ~776m) from PJMSO (July 15.17p5)
- K01R17V 2001 RV17 (arc=2 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from PJMSO (July 15.18-19p5)
- J99F00A 1999 FA (arc=2 opp, H=20.7 ~245m) from ARO (July 14.34-35p3)
- J95L00G 1995 LG (i=43.6°, q=0.223 AU, arc=4 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from PJMSO (July 15.23-25p6)
- E5656 145656 4788 P-L from Santa Mama Obs. (July 14.87-88p2), Eschenberg Obs. (July 15.85p3), and Herrenberg Obs. (July 15.86-87p9)
- D7170 137170 1999 HF1 from PJMSO (July 15.10p5)
- 90373 90373 2003 SZ219 from ARO (July 14.22-23p3)
- 87309 87309 2000 QP from Iluro Obs. (July 15.08-09p3) and LINEAR (July 15.32-36p5)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from Frasso Sabino Obs. (July 14.96p4)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from Santa Mama Obs. (July 13.85p1, 13.90p1 & 14.86-89p3), Thousand Oaks Obs. (July 15.27-29p2), PJMSO (July 15.30p5), and Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (July 15.56p3)
- 68950 68950 2002 QF15 from LINEAR (July 15.17-21p5)
- 24443 24443 2000 OG from Santa Mama Obs. (July 14.92-94p4) and PJMSO (July 15.30-31p5)
- 05879 5879 Almeria (1992 CH1) from ARO (July 14.27-29p3)
- 04341 4341 Poseidon (1987 KF) from LINEAR (July 15.18-22p5)
- 01685 1685 Toro (1948 OA) from Eschenberg Obs. (July 14.85p2 & 15.86p3)
MPEC 2007-O01 - "01:12 UT" - 2003 MT9
- K03M09T 2003 MT9 (q=0.200 AU, Q=4.874 AU, H=18.7 ~616m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (June 26.36-38p4), LINEAR (July 15.27-31p5), Wildberg Obs. (July 15.96-97p6), Remanzacco Obs. (July 15.98-02p4), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (July 15.99p4), Guidestar Obs. (July 16.00-01p4), and Eschenberg Obs. (July 16.02-03p10)
Observers on 16 July '07
A total of 26 observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. in Illinois, 9 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 NL1, 2007 LV19, 2007 LS, 2007 DK8, 2006 YC13, 2006 WN3, 1999 FA, 90373, 5879 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2007-O01 -- 2003 MT9 |
| A77 | Chante-Perdrix Obs. in France, 1 in MPEC 2007-O03 -- 2007 NS2 |
| 095 | Crimean Astrophysical Obs. in the Ukraine, 1 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 DT103 |
| 151 | Eschenberg Obs. in Switzerland, 5 in MPECs 2007-O01 & 2007-O02 -- 2007 LR32, 2003 HF2, 145656, 1685, 2003 MT9 |
| 595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-O01 -- 2003 MT9 |
| 157 | Frasso Sabino Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 LR32, 86324 |
| H51 | Greiner Research Obs. in Wisconsin, 2 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 LR32, 2007 HE15 |
| A17 | Guidestar Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2007-O01 -- 2003 MT9 |
| 379 | Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. in Japan, 2 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 LR32, 85275 |
| 240 | Herrenberg Obs. in Germany, 3 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 MB24, 2007 MT20, 145656 |
| B19 | Iluro Obs. in Spain, 2 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 LR32, 87309 |
| 046 | Klet Obs. in the Czech Republic, 3 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 MT20, 2007 ML6, 2007 LR32 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 6 in MPECs 2007-O01 & 2007-O02 -- 2007 NQ, 2007 LA15, 87309, 68950, 4341, 2003 MT9 |
| J75 | La Sagra Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2007-O03 -- 2007 NS2 |
| 620 | Mallorca Obs. in Mallorca, 1 in MPEC 2007-O03 -- 2007 NS2 |
| A13 | Naef Obs. in Switzerland, 1 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2006 XA |
| H45 | Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. in Arkansas, 18 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 NQ, 2007 MB24, 2007 MT20, 2007 MM13, 2007 ML13, 2007 LA15, 2007 LV8, 2007 LF, 2007 CK26, 2006 GB, 2004 ST9, 2003 HF2, 2001 SE170, 2001 RV17, 1995 LG, 137170, 85275, 24443 |
| 473 | Remanzacco Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-O01 -- 2003 MT9 |
| B38 | Santa Mama Obs. in Italy, 4 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2003 HF2, 145656, 85275, 24443 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 DT103 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2007-O03 -- 2007 NS2 |
| G69 | Thousand Oaks Obs. in southern California, 1 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 85275 |
| F85 | Tiki Obs. in Tahiti, 2 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2007 ML6, 2006 WP127 |
| A55 | Vallemare di Borbona Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-O02 -- 2003 MT9 |
| 198 | Wildberg Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2007-O01 -- 2003 MT9 |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 16 July '07
At last check (NEODyS and JPL at 2356 UTC) there was no risk monitoring news to report yet today.
Chronology on 16 July '07
Times are UTC for when the items were noted or added by Major News.
| 1932 | Added news report, "Kitt Peak update" |
| 1902 | Added link to news story, "Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object" Added link to news story, "One giant leap for space fashion: MIT team designs sleek, skintight spacesuit" Added link to news story, "Planets Go 'Splat' on Stars" Added link to news story, "Kepler Team Cuts Costs, Avoids Cancellation" |
| 1514 | Added news report, "Discovery from Spain" |
| 1323 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-O02 - Daily Orbit Update - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-O03 - 2007 NS2 - see above |
| 0513 | Added MOS paper, "Embedded Star Formation in the Eagle Nebula with Spitzer/GLIMPSE" - see above Added MOS paper, "First Steps in Direct Imaging of Planetary Systems Like our Own: The Science Potential of 2-m Class Optical Space Telescopes" - see above |
| 0408 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-O01 - 2003 MT9 - see above |
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