Today is the 130th anniversary of the first discovery of a moon around Mars, although Deimos (left) was actually found on the 12th UTC. Asaph Hall at the U.S. Naval Observatory 0.66m telescope in Washington, D.C. next discovered Phobos six days later. Probably captured asteroids, here they are shown at the same scale, with the diameter of Deimos at about 12.4 km. and Phobos 22.2 km. Composite image credit: NASA. See also JPL's Planetary Photojournal Deimos collection and Malin Space Science Systems' Deimos! page and its link to a Viking mission boulder-resolution image.
Contents on 11 August '07
- Minor-Object News -- four items
- Minor-Object Science -- none yet today
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- six listings: 3 new, 3 updated
- New MPECs -- six MPECs
- Observers -- seventeen observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- two objects reported
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - CRT page
- Ephemerides for risk-rated objects
- Ephemerides for small asteroids
The latest news: framed access (best), RSS news feed (flags updates), or redirection - Note: A/CC has a main Web site and a backup site.
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 through a calendar interface. And use the all-up news archive to access news from any time since A/CC began in early 2002. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.
Minor-Object News on 11 August '07
- "See meteors this weekend," Astronomy magazine 10 Aug. - Quote: "The best time to see the meteors is when the Perseids peak, at 4 a.m. EDT August 13." {permalink}
- "UK gets best seats to spectacular meteor shower," PA at Brisbane Times 11 Aug. - Quote: "The shower can best be seen at around 3am Monday regardless of timezone." {permalink}
- "Aussies might as well stay in bed," AAP at Brisbane Times 11 Aug. - Quote: "[The] Astronomical Society of Australia says stargazers in the Southern Hemisphere will get only a fleeting view of the [Perseids] ... because the meteor showers will be in the far north." {permalink}
- "Of Skunks and Telescopes: Close Encounters of the UNkind," Science@NASA 10 Aug. - Quote: "Twelve people have alternated shifts 24/7 since late May [testing components of the James Webb Space Telescope at the Marshall Space Flight Center X-Ray Calibration Facility]... The 24/7 testing will continue through 2010. That's a lot of testing, a lot of night shifts, and a lot of skunks." - Note: Audio available. {permalink}
NEOCP Activity on 11 August '07
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 6 listings: 3 new, 3 updated
When last checked at 2333 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's NEO discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had three new and three updated listings. Of these, three were "one nighters." So far Major News has counted a total of eleven objects listed on the NEOCP at some point today.
To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see Suno Observatory's Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object.
New MPECs on 11 August '07
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2357 UTC, there have been six MPECs issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2007-P34 time-stamped "06:07 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2007-P35 time-stamped "18:14 UT" - 2007 PA8 - see below
- MPEC 2007-P36 time-stamped "18:20 UT" - 2007 PB8 - see below
- MPEC 2007-P37 time-stamped "18:23 UT" - 2007 PD8 - see below
- MPEC 2007-P38 time-stamped "18:31 UT" - 2004 TP20 - see below
- MPEC 2007-P39 time-stamped "23:07 UT" - 2007 PE8
MPEC 2007-P39 - "23:07 UT" - 2007 PE8
- K07P08E 2007 PE8 (H=19.8 ~371m) was discovered at 0338 UT 11 Aug. by LINEAR, which observed it at Aug. 11.15-20p5. The discovery was confirmed by Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 11.87p3) and Eschenberg Obs. (Aug. 11.93-94p7).
MPEC 2007-P38 - "18:31 UT" - 2004 TP20
- K04T20P 2004 TP20 (H=20.0 ~339m) from Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (Aug. 10.20-24p3 at V=22.2-3 & 11.21-24p3 at V=22.2-4)
MPEC 2007-P37 - "18:23 UT" - 2007 PD8
- K07P08D 2007 PD8 (small asteroid, H=22.5 ~107m) was discovered at 1340 UT 10 Aug. by the Siding Spring Survey (SSS), which observed it at Aug. 10.57-60p7, 10.67-77p12, 10.82p2, 11.57-58p5, and 11.64-69p4.
MPEC 2007-P36 - "18:20 UT" - 2007 PB8
- K07P08B 2007 PB8 (H=21.6 ~162m) was discovered at 0819 UT 10 Aug. by the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope, which observed it at Aug. 10.35-38p3 and 11.29-34p5. The discovery was confirmed by the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Aug. 10.44p3), Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 11.07-08p3), and ARO (Aug. 11.29-30p3).
MPEC 2007-P35 - "18:14 UT" - 2007 PA8
- K07P08A 2007 PA8 (risk-listed, Q=5.139 AU, Earth MOID=5.4 LD, H=16.2 ~1.95 km) was discovered at 0502 UT 09 Aug. by LINEAR, which observed it at Aug. 9.21-26p4. The discovery was confirmed by Farpoint Obs. (Aug. 10.23-24p4), Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 10.91p1 & 10.95-97p2), Schiaparelli Obs. (Aug. 11.04p2), and ARO (Aug. 11.15-17p3).
<< DOU on 11 Aug. '07 >> MPEC 2007-P34 - "06:07 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K07P06F 2007 PF6 (arc=2 days, H=20.4 ~282m) from ARO (Aug. 10.21-22p3) and Farpoint Obs. (Aug. 10.22-23p5)
- Observations of other objects
- K07N05C 2007 NC5 (q=0.277 AU, Q=4.618 AU, arc=37 days, H=18.0 ~851m) from Santa Mama Obs. (Aug. 9.94-96p8), CAST Obs. (Aug. 10.02p1), and Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) (Aug. 10.34-35p7)
- K07M13M 2007 MM13 (i=38.2°, arc=48 days, H=17.7 ~977m) from Santa Mama Obs. (Aug. 9.88-89p4) and PJMSO (Aug. 10.19-20p6)
- K07L32R 2007 LR32 (arc=77 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 8.60-64p12 & 10.66-69p12) and PJMSO (Aug. 10.33-34p6)
- K07L15A 2007 LA15 (arc=58 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Santa Mama Obs. (Aug. 9.84-86p8) and PJMSO (Aug. 10.18p6)
- K07L00F 2007 LF (arc=64 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from ARO (Aug. 10.17-18p2)
- K07L00D 2007 LD (arc=64 days, H=18.8 ~589m) from ARO (Aug. 10.09-12p3)
- K07K04N 2007 KN4 (Q=5.441 AU, arc=82 days, H=17.0 ~1.35 km) from ARO (Aug. 10.35-36p3)
- K07J35J 2007 JJ35 (i=56.1°, arc=88 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from ARO (Aug. 10.10-14p3)
- K07H82X 2007 HX82 (Q=4.096 AU, arc=106 days, H=20.5 ~269m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.28p2)
- K07DA3T 2007 DT103 (arc=165 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 8.65-67p14, 8.80p1 & 10.69-71p14) and Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 10.37-38p14)
- K07D40Z 2007 DZ40 (Q=4.840 AU, arc=169 days, H=18.5 ~676m) from ARO (Aug. 10.14-16p2)
- K07C26K 2007 CK26 (arc=2 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Santa Mama Obs. (Aug. 9.91-93p8)
- K06G00B 2006 GB (arc=2 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.15-16p5)
- K05G59E 2005 GE59 (arc=2 opp, H=18.1 ~812m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.42-43p3)
- K04S09T 2004 ST9 (arc=2 opp, H=18.1 ~812m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.25-26p5)
- K04RP2D 2004 RD252 (arc=2 opp, H=19.1 ~513m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.28-29p3)
- K04R84F 2004 RF84 (arc=2 opp, H=18.4 ~708m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.31-33p3 at V=22.1-2)
- K03SM2W 2003 SW222 (arc=3 opp, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.21p3)
- K03SL4U 2003 SU214 (arc=2 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.30-31p3)
- K03R07X 2003 RX7 (arc=3 opp, H=18.5 ~676m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.32-33p5)
- K03F02S 2003 FS2 (arc=2 opp, H=18.8 ~589m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.26-27p3)
- K02T66D 2002 TD66 (arc=3 opp, H=19.9 ~355m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.36-38p3)
- K02N04N 2002 NN4 (arc=4 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.36p6)
- K01R17R 2001 RR17 (arc=5 opp, H=16.8 ~1.48 km) from ARO (Aug. 10.37-38p3)
- K01L06E 2001 LE6 (q=0.370 AU, arc=5 opp, H=17.7 ~977m) from ARO (Aug. 10.39p3)
- K00S08B 2000 SB8 (arc=2 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.46-47p3)
- K00R12N 2000 RN12 (arc=2 opp, H=20.1 ~323m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.40p2)
- K00J03A 2000 JA3 (arc=2 opp, H=18.6 ~645m) from Spacewatch 1.8m (Aug. 10.48-49p3 at V=22.1)
- J95L00G 1995 LG (i=43.6°, q=0.222 AU, arc=4 opp, H=18.7 ~616m) from PJMSO (Aug. 10.14-15p4)
- F2895 152895 2000 CQ101 from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.90-97p4)
- E5656 145656 4788 P-L from Santa Mama Obs. (Aug. 9.81-83p7), PJMSO (Aug. 10.27-28p5), and Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 10.49p5)
- E1874 141874 2002 PO34 from Spacewatch 0.9m (Aug. 10.24-28p3)
- 87309 87309 2000 QP from PJMSO (Aug. 10.24-25p5)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from Atlante Obs. (Aug. 9.96-97p2) and PJMSO (Aug. 10.23-24p5)
- 86039 86039 1999 NC43 from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.84-86p4)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from PJMSO (Aug. 10.21p6), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 10.47p6), and Red Barn Obs. (Aug. 11.12-13p5)
- 68950 68950 2002 QF15 from PJMSO (Aug. 10.17p5)
- 53435 53435 1999 VM40 from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.88-95p6)
- 24443 24443 2000 OG from PJMSO (Aug. 10.13-14p5)
- 05879 5879 Almeria (1992 CH1) from Spacewatch 0.9m (Aug. 10.23-27p3)
- 05626 5626 1991 FE from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.90-93p4)
- 04183 4183 Cuno (1959 LM) from Atlante Obs. (Aug. 10.01-06p3)
- 03554 3554 Amun (1986 EB) from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.79-83p5)
- 03103 3103 Eger (1982 BB) from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.90-97p6)
- 01866 1866 Sisyphus (1972 XA) from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.83-89p6)
- 01627 1627 Ivar (1929 SH) from New Millennium Obs. (March 16.82-90p7)
- 00433 433 Eros (1898 DQ) from Atlante Obs. (Aug. 9.88p1 & 9.94-95p2)
Observers on 11 August '07
Seventeen observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. in Illinois, 11 in MPECs 2007-P34, 2007-P35, 2007-P36 & 2007-P38 -- 2004 TP20, 2007 PB8, 2007 PA8, 2007 PF6, 2007 LF, 2007 LD, 2007 KN4, 2007 JJ35, 2007 DZ40, 2001 RR17, 2001 LE6 |
| J51 | Atlante Obs. in the Canary Islands, 3 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 86324, 4183, 433 |
| 235 | CAST Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 2007 NC5 |
| 151 | Eschenberg Obs. in Switzerland, 1 in MPEC 2007-P39 -- 2007 PE8 |
| 734 | Farpoint Obs. in Kansas, 2 in MPECs 2007-P34 & 2007-P35 -- 2007 PA8, 2007 PF6 |
| J95 | Great Shefford Obs. in England, 3 in MPECs 2007-P35, 2007-P36 & 2007-P39 -- 2007 PE8, 2007 PB8, 2007 PA8 |
| H51 | Greiner Research Obs. in Wisconsin, 1 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 2007 DT103 |
| 379 | Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. in Japan, 4 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 2007 LR32, 2007 DT103, 145656, 85275 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 2 in MPECs 2007-P35 & 2007-P39 -- 2007 PE8, 2007 PA8 |
| A24 | New Millennium Obs. in Italy, 8 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 152895, 86039, 53435, 5626, 3554, 3103, 1866, 1627 |
| H45 | Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. in Arkansas, 16 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 2007 NC5, 2007 MM13, 2007 LR32, 2007 LA15, 2007 HX82, 2006 GB, 2004 ST9, 2003 RX7, 2002 NN4, 1995 LG, 145656, 87309, 86324, 85275, 68950, 24443 |
| H68 | Red Barn Obs. in Georgia, 1 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 85275 |
| B38 | Santa Mama Obs. in Italy, 5 in MPEC 2007-P34 -- 2007 NC5, 2007 MM13, 2007 LA15, 2007 CK26, 145656 |
| 204 | Schiaparelli Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-P35 -- 2007 PA8 |
| E12 | Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales, 1 in MPEC 2007-P37 -- 2007 PD8 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 3 in MPECs 2007-P34 & 2007-P36 -- 2007 PB8, 141874, 5879 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 11 in MPECs 2007-P34 & 2007-P36 -- 2007 PB8, 2005 GE59, 2004 RD252, 2004 RF84, 2003 SW222, 2003 SU214, 2003 FS2, 2002 TD66, 2000 SB8, 2000 RN12, 2000 JA3 |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 11 August '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 PF6 | JPL | 1427 | 2024-2100 | 18 | 9.4e-09 | -5.36 | -6.25 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 28 observations spanning 2.0159 days (2007-Aug-08.20922 to 2007-Aug-10.22507)." Diameter approximately 0.320 km. from mean, weighted H=20.1. |
| NEODyS | 1427 | 2032-2090 | 18 | 3.51e-09 | -5.89 | -6.38 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 28 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2007/08/08.210 to 2007/08/10.226." | |
| 2007 PA8 | JPL | 2314 | 2019-2103 | 29 | 1.5e-08 | -3.22 | -3.63 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 16 observations spanning 1.9597 days (2007-Aug-09.21035 to 2007-Aug-11.170041)." Diameter approximately 2.047 km. from mean, weighted H=16.1. |
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 11 August '07
Times are UTC for when the items were noted or added by Major News.
| 2314 | Noted that JPL has posted 2007 PA8 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-P39 - 2007 PE8 - see above |
| 1907 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-P38 - 2004 TP20 - see above |
| 1826 | Grabbed MPEC 2007-P35 - 2007 PA8 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-P36 - 2007 PB8 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-P37 - 2007 PD8 - see above |
| 1648 | Added link to news story, "Of Skunks and Telescopes: Close Encounters of the UNkind" Added link to news story, "See meteors this weekend" Added link to news story, "Aussies might as well stay in bed" Added link to news story, "UK gets best seats to spectacular meteor shower" |
| 1427 | Noted that JPL has updated its 2007 PF6 risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2007 PF6 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-P34 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
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