Mt. Wilson Observatory in southern California was without staff or fire fighters as it was feared the "Station" wild fire could overwhelm the mountain top yesterday. This image, from the 150-ft. (50-meter) Solar Tower Telescope webcam at 3:12pm Monday, shows thick smoke to the west, beyond broadcast towers. See observatory and university fire reports here and here and news published here and here. Image ©Copyright 2009 UCLA Dept. of Physics & Astronomy. Update: L.A. Times report.
Contents on 1 September '09
- Radar Astrometry -- one object
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- one listing: 1 updated
- New MPECs -- two MPECs
- Observers -- 30 observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- one object
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - the CRT page
- Earth's Busy Neighborhood Traffic Report
- Ephemerides for risk-rated and nearby objects
- News image catalog - new 13-14 Aug. 2009
- Old & new CRT Archive
- Old News Archive & Small Objects Archive
The latest A/CC news is available via framed access, 
RSS news feed, or redirection. - Note: A/CC has a main Web site and also a backup site with its own duplicate RSS news feed.
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 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.
Radar Astrometry on 1 September '09
Radar observation of one object
The JPL Solar System Dynamics Group Radar Astrometry database has added or updated the following small-body radar observing work:
Data update noted at 1319 UTC when the database was dated 31 Aug.
- 2009 KC3 from Goldstone DSS-14 70m antenna (Aug. 22.74 velocity, 22.78 range, 22.83 range, 23.58 range & 25.53 range) - see links
NEOCP Activity on 1 September '09
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 1 listing: 1 updated
When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had one updated listing. So far The Tracking News has counted a total of three listings on the NEOCP at some point today.
To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see the Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object at Suno Observatory by Birtwhistle et al.
New MPECs on 1 September '09
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been two MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2009-R01 time-stamped "06:08 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2009-R02 time-stamped "16:53 UT" - Comet C/2009 Q5 (McNaught)
MPEC 2009-R02 - "16:53 UT" - Comet C/2009 Q5 (McNaught)
- CK09Q050 C/2009 Q5 from the Siding Spring Survey (SSS) (Aug. 31.63-67p4, 31.74p2 & 31.81p1), RAS Obs. Moorook (Aug. 31.77-79p2), Engelhardt Obs. Zelenchukskaya Station (Aug. 31.94-96p3), Stixendorf Obs. (Sept. 1.03-05p6), Vitebsk Obs. (Sept. 1.03-05p4), Guidestar Obs. (Sept. 1.04-05p3), Drebach Obs. (Sept. 1.12-13p8), CEAMIG-REA (Sept. 1.23-24p3), Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (Sept. 1.29-30p4), Tzec Maun Obs. Mayhill (Sept. 1.31p3), RAS Obs. Mayhill (Sept. 1.31-35p5), Sandlot Obs. (Sept. 1.36-37p4), and Faulkes Telescope North (Sept. 1.60p3)
<< DOU on 1 Sept. '09 >> MPEC 2009-R01 - "06:08 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K09Q35B 2009 QB35 (Q=5.177 AU, arc=3 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from Bergen-Enkheim Obs. (Aug. 30.98p1, 31.03p1 & 31.07-11p2)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K09Q23C 2009 QC23 (arc=8 days, H=24.9 ~35m) from Silver Spring Obs. (Aug. 26.17-19p3)
- K09Q09K 2009 QK9 (arc=9 days, H=23.2 ~78m) from Goodricke-Pigott Obs. (Aug. 29.37p1) and ARO (Aug. 30.37-38p5)
- K09Q08R 2009 QR8 (arc=12 days, H=22.1 ~129m) from ARO (Aug. 30.31-33p4)
- K09Q02G 2009 QG2 (arc=11 days, H=23.2 ~78m) from Silver Spring Obs. (Aug. 24.08-10p5)
- Observations of almost-small asteroids (21.7<H<=22.0)
- K09Q36C 2009 QC36 (arc=2 days, H=21.9 ~141m) from Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. (Aug. 31.93p3) and Guidestar Obs. (Sept. 1.06-08p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K09Q09J 2009 QJ9 (Q=4.389 AU, arc=11 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from Stammersdorf Obs. (Aug. 30.84-86p5), Verona Obs. (Aug. 31.82-83p4), and Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. (Aug. 31.90p3)
- K09Q05N 2009 QN5 (Q=4.385 AU, arc=12 days, H=19.2 ~490m) from ARO (Aug. 30.34-35p5)
- K09Q02H 2009 QH2 (arc=13 days, H=21.2 ~195m) from Verona Obs. (Aug. 30.86-88p4)
- K09O00C 2009 OC (arc=2 opp, H=20.3 ~295m) from the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) (Aug. 31.27-28p4) and Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) (Aug. 31.34-35p6)
- K09N00H 2009 NH (arc=51 days, H=18.7 ~616m) from PJMSO (Aug. 31.25-26p6)
- K09N00E 2009 NE (q=0.361 AU, Q=4.987 AU, arc=4 opp, H=15.9 ~2.24 km) from Castelmartini Obs. (Aug. 31.80p5), Modra Obs. (Aug. 31.83p4), and Thompsonville Obs. (Sept. 1.13-14p6)
- K09N00A 2009 NA (Q=4.130 AU, arc=61 days, H=17.5 ~1.07 km) from LINEAR (Aug. 31.32-36p4) and PJMSO (Aug. 31.33p6)
- K09M09C 2009 MC9 (arc=62 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. (Aug. 31.89p3)
- K09L00X 2009 LX (Q=4.543 AU, arc=81 days, H=19.3 ~467m) from PJMSO (Aug. 31.26-28p6)
- K05M00C 2005 MC (Q=4.169 AU, arc=3 opp, H=16.4 ~1.78 km) from Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. (Aug. 31.92p3)
- K05E01O 2005 EO1 (Q=4.324 AU, arc=5 opp, H=18.1 ~812m) from LINEAR (Aug. 31.34-36p3)
- K02R25Q 2002 RQ25 (arc=4 opp, H=20.5 ~269m) from SSS (Aug. 31.57-62p4)
- J98S04V 1998 SV4 (i=53.3°, q=0.292 AU, arc=6 opp, H=18.1 ~812m) from Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. (Aug. 31.91p3)
- G3697 163697 2003 EF54 from Stammersdorf Obs. (Aug. 30.82-83p3)
- G3051 163051 2001 YJ4 from Bigmuskie Obs. (Aug. 31.91-95p3)
- F4244 154244 2002 KL6 from Andrushivka Obs. (Aug. 18.00p3 & 19.05p1)
- E1765 141765 2002 MP3 from LINEAR (2006 Feb. 28.11-12p2)
- D8925 138925 2001 AU43 from Castelmartini Obs. (Aug. 31.84p4)
- D6618 136618 1994 CN2 from LINEAR (2006 March 24.31p1)
- 12711 12711 Tukmit (1991 BB) from Castelmartini Obs. (Aug. 31.82-83p4)
- 11500 11500 Tomaiyowit (1989 UR) from Bigmuskie Obs. (Aug. 31.86-89p3)
- 07358 7358 Oze (1995 YA3) from LINEAR (2004 March 19.43-44p2)
- 03200 3200 Phaethon (1983 TB) from LINEAR (Aug. 31.38-43p5)
- 02100 2100 Ra-Shalom (1978 RA) from Castelmartini Obs. (Aug. 31.83-84p4)
- 01943 1943 Anteros (1973 EC) from Moriyama Obs. (Aug. 30.53-54p2) and CSS (Aug. 31.25-26p4)
- 00433 433 Eros (1898 DQ) from Hugh C. Harris via U.S. Naval Obs. Flagstaff Station (USNO Flagstaff) (Aug. 16.36p1) and Stammersdorf Obs. (Aug. 30.87-90p6)
Observers on 1 September '09
A total of 30 observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| A50 | Andrushivka Obs. in the Ukraine, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 154244 |
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) in Illinois, 4 in MPECs 2009-R01 & 2009-R02 -- 2009 QR8, 2009 QN5, 2009 QK9, C/2009 Q5 |
| A74 | Bergen-Enkheim Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QB35 |
| B88 | Bigmuskie Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 163051, 11500 |
| I77 | CEAMIG-REA in Brazil, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 4 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 NE, 138925, 12711, 2100 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 2 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 OC, 1943 |
| 113 | Drebach Obs. in Germany, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| 114 | Engelhardt Obs. Zelenchukskaya Station in Karachay-Cherkessia, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| F65 | Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| 253 | Goldstone DSS-14 70m antenna in southern California, 1 in radar -- 2009 KC3 |
| 683 | Goodricke-Pigott Obs. in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QK9 |
| A17 | Guidestar Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPECs 2009-R01 & 2009-R02 -- 2009 QC36, C/2009 Q5 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 6 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 NA, 2005 EO1, 141765, 136618, 7358, 3200 |
| 560 | Madonna di Dossobuono Obs. in Italy, 5 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QJ9, 2009 QC36, 2009 MC9, 2005 MC, 1998 SV4 |
| 118 | Modra Obs. in Slovakia, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 NE |
| 900 | Moriyama Obs. in Japan, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 1943 |
| H45 | Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) in Arkansas, 4 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 OC, 2009 NH, 2009 NA, 2009 LX |
| H06 | RAS Obs. Mayhill in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| D90 | RAS Obs. Moorook in South Australia, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| H36 | Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| E12 | Siding Spring Survey (SSS) in New South Wales, 2 in MPECs 2009-R01 & 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5, 2002 RQ25 |
| H85 | Silver Spring Obs. in Maryland, 2 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QG2, 2009 QC23 |
| A97 | Stammersdorf Obs. in Austria, 3 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QJ9, 163697, 433 |
| A71 | Stixendorf Obs. in Austria, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| H53 | Thompsonville Obs. in Illinois, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 NE |
| H10 | Tzec Maun Obs. Mayhill in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| 6892 | Hugh C. Harris via U.S. Naval Obs. Flagstaff Station in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 433 |
| A48 | Verona Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2009-R01 -- 2009 QJ9, 2009 QH2 |
| B42 | Vitebsk Obs. in Belarus, 1 in MPEC 2009-R02 -- C/2009 Q5 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 1 September '09
| 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 |
| 2009 QB35 | NEODyS | 1318 | 2055-2067 | 3 | 1.7e-10 | -7.27 | -7.48 | 0 | NEODyS: "Based on 17 optical observations (of which 0 are rejected as outliers) from 2009/08/28.344 to 2009/08/31.107." |
| JPL Sentry | 1318 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 0848 UTC. | ||||||
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 a variant 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" to learn more.
Chronology on 1 September '09
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 1712 | Grabbed MPEC 2009-R02 - Comet C/2009 Q5 (McNaught) - see above |
| 1319 | Noted Radar Astrometry database update - see above |
| 1318 | Noted that JPL Sentry has removed 2009 QB35 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has updated its 2009 QB35 risk assessment - see above Grabbed MPEC 2009-R01 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
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