NASA's LCROSS mission, now dedicated to the late Walter Cronkite, has announced the selection of the lunar south polar crater Cabeus A to be the target for a two-stage impact at 4:30am PDT (1130 UTC) October 9th. Amateur and casual observers are invited to participate with 10" telescope or larger (finder charts, more info here and here). Image courtesy of New Mexico State Univ. Tortugas Observatory.
Contents on 13 September '09
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- five listings: 2 new, 3 updated
- New MPECs -- four MPECs
- Observers -- 25 observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- two objects
- 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.
NEOCP Activity on 13 September '09
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 5 listings: 2 new, 3 updated
When last checked at 2358 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's Near Earth Object discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had two new and three updated listings. Of these, three were "one nighters." So far The Tracking News has counted a total of ten 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 13 September '09
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2358 UTC, there have been four MPECs posted today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
- MPEC 2009-R50 time-stamped "06:07 UT" - Daily Orbit Update - see below
- MPEC 2009-R51 time-stamped "21:16 UT" - 2009 RT1 - see below
- MPEC 2009-R52 time-stamped "21:19 UT" - 2009 RU1 - see below
- MPEC 2009-R53 time-stamped "21:23 UT" - 2009 RV1
MPEC 2009-R53 - "21:23 UT" - 2009 RV1
- K09R01V 2009 RV1 was discovered at 0754 UT on 12 Sept. by the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope, which observed it at Sept. 12.33-36p3. The discovery was confirmed by ESA Optical Ground Station (ESA OGS) (Sept. 13.00-01p2), Great Shefford Obs. (Sept. 13.01-03p3), Sandlot Obs. (Sept. 13.41-42p2), and Cristovao Jacques via RAS Obs. Moorook (Sept. 13.76-77p3).
MPEC 2009-R52 - "21:19 UT" - 2009 RU1
- K09R01U 2009 RU1 was discovered at 0648 UT on 12 Sept. by the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), which observed it at Sept. 12.28-29p4. The discovery was confirmed by Sormano Obs. (Sept. 12.84p4), Great Shefford Obs. (Sept. 12.87-88p3), ESA OGS (Sept. 12.88-90p6), CAST Obs. (Sept. 12.92p2), Farra d'Isonzo Obs. (Sept. 12.99-01p2), Doc Greiner Research Obs. (DGRO) (Sept. 13.14-15p3), and Sandlot Obs. (Sept. 13.32-34p2).
MPEC 2009-R51 - "21:16 UT" - 2009 RT1
- K09R01T 2009 RT1 was discovered at 1506 UT on 11 Sept. by the Siding Spring Survey (SSS), which observed it at Sept. 11.63-66p3 and 12.38-39p2. The discovery was confirmed by ESA OGS (Sept. 12.88-90p6), Great Shefford Obs. (Sept. 12.89-90p2), Rio Cuarto Obs. (Sept. 12.99-00p3), Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) (Sept. 13.09-11p3), DGRO (Sept. 13.13-14p3), K. Hills via RAS Obs. Moorook (Sept. 13.50-53p4), and Jacques/RAS Moorook (Sept. 13.57-58p3).
<< DOU on 13 Sept. '09 >> MPEC 2009-R50 - "06:07 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K09R00R 2009 RR (small asteroid, arc=2 days, H=25.5 ~27m) from ARO (Sept. 12.06-07p3) and Great Shefford Obs. (Sept. 13.04p3)
- K09R00N 2009 RN (Q=4.800 AU, arc=2 days, H=19.9 ~355m) from ARO (Sept. 12.22-23p4), Great Shefford Obs. (Sept. 12.00p1 & 13.06-07p3), and Guidestar Obs. (Sept. 12.00-02p3)
- Observations of recently (no longer) risk-listed objects
- K09Q34F 2009 QF34 (small asteroid, arc=16 days, H=22.6 ~102m) from ARO (Sept. 12.26-27p3)
- K09Q08L 2009 QL8 (arc=24 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from El Condor Obs. (Sept. 13.18-20p2)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K09R00H 2009 RH (arc=2 days, H=23.8 ~59m) from ARO (Sept. 12.08-09p3)
- K09Q35A 2009 QA35 (Q=4.132 AU, arc=15 days, H=22.4 ~112m) from ARO (Sept. 12.16-17p3)
- K09Q00T 2009 QT (arc=26 days, H=23.4 ~71m) from ARO (Sept. 12.10-12p3 at V=21.8-22.1)
- K09P01Q 2009 PQ1 (arc=29 days, H=22.5 ~107m) from the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope (Sept. 12.32-33p3 at V=21.7-22.6)
- K09P00H 2009 PH (arc=33 days, H=22.1 ~129m) from ARO (Sept. 12.11p3)
- K09O03C 2009 OC3 (arc=51 days, H=22.3 ~117m) from ARO (Sept. 12.18-20p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K09R01D 2009 RD1 (Q=4.012 AU, arc=1 day, H=20.5 ~269m) from ARO (Sept. 12.13-14p3) and Los Molinos Obs. (Sept. 12.26-27p7)
- K09Q36B 2009 QB36 (Q=4.007 AU, arc=14 days, H=17.6 ~1.02 km) from ARO (Sept. 12.28-29p4)
- K09Q34G 2009 QG34 (Q=4.634 AU, arc=16 days, H=19.7 ~389m) from ARO (Sept. 12.30-31p5)
- K09Q31F 2009 QF31 (i=42.4°, arc=17 days, H=18.4 ~708m) from ARO (Sept. 12.09-10p4)
- K09Q09J 2009 QJ9 (Q=4.399 AU, arc=22 days, H=19.4 ~446m) from El Condor Obs. (Sept. 12.25-26p2)
- K09N00H 2009 NH (arc=64 days, H=18.8 ~589m) from Atlante Obs. (Sept. 13.09-10p3)
- K09M09C 2009 MC9 (arc=74 days, H=18.1 ~812m) from Atlante Obs. (Sept. 12.90-92p3)
- K09M01L 2009 ML1 (arc=82 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Atlante Obs. (Sept. 13.06-08p3)
- K09K03C 2009 KC3 (Q=5.454 AU, arc=130 days, H=18.2 ~776m) from An Carraig Obs. (Sept. 11.99-02p7)
- K08J00O 2008 JO (arc=2 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from CSS (Sept. 12.30p4)
- K04F01G 2004 FG1 (arc=2 opp, H=19.4 ~446m) from ARO (Sept. 12.13-15p3)
- K02T66E 2002 TE66 (i=51.3°, arc=5 opp, H=18.3 ~741m) from Guidestar Obs. (Sept. 13.07-09p3)
- L8863 218863 2006 WO127 from LINEAR (Sept. 12.35-39p4)
- L7796 217796 2000 TO64 from Gualba Obs. (Sept. 11.81p1)
- L7683 217683 1999 RP36 from La Sagra Obs. (Sept. 12.05-08p3)
- G3697 163697 2003 EF54 from LINEAR (Sept. 12.23-25p3)
- E3651 143651 2003 QO104 from SSS (Sept. 12.55-58p4)
- 68216 68216 2001 CV26 from El Condor Obs. (Sept. 12.27-29p2)
- 54401 54401 2000 LM from Castelmartini Obs. (Sept. 11.80-81p3)
- 42286 42286 2001 TN41 from SSS (Sept. 11.67-70p4)
- 17511 17511 1992 QN from Spacewatch 0.9m (Sept. 12.27-30p3) and LINEAR (Sept. 12.32-34p3)
- 17274 17274 2000 LC16 from LINEAR (Sept. 12.23-28p4) and Mt. Tuffley Obs. (Sept. 12.91p3)
- 16834 16834 1997 WU22 from Castelmartini Obs. (Sept. 11.82p2)
- 01943 1943 Anteros (1973 EC) from Mt. Tuffley Obs. (Sept. 12.92p3)
- 00433 433 Eros (1898 DQ) from LINEAR (Sept. 12.23-25p3), Montana Blanca Obs. (Sept. 12.84-88p3), and Mt. Tuffley Obs. (Sept. 12.89p3)
Observers on 13 September '09
A total of 25 observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| Code | Observer / observatory |
|---|---|
| J16 | An Carraig Obs. in Northern Ireland, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 KC3 |
| H55 | Astronomical Research Obs. (ARO) in Illinois, 14 in MPECs 2009-R50 & 2009-R51 -- 2009 RT1, 2009 RR, 2009 RN, 2009 RH, 2009 RD1, 2009 QT, 2009 QG34, 2009 QF34, 2009 QF31, 2009 QB36, 2009 QA35, 2009 PH, 2009 OC3, 2004 FG1 |
| J51 | Atlante Obs. in the Canary Islands, 3 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 NH, 2009 ML1, 2009 MC9 |
| 235 | CAST Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2009-R52 -- 2009 RU1 |
| 160 | Castelmartini Obs. in Italy, 2 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 54401, 16834 |
| 703 | Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) in Arizona, 2 in MPECs 2009-R50 & 2009-R52 -- 2009 RU1, 2008 JO |
| H26 | Doc Greiner Research Obs. (DGRO) in Wisconsin, 2 in MPECs 2009-R51 & 2009-R52 -- 2009 RU1, 2009 RT1 |
| J04 | ESA Optical Ground Station (ESA OGS) in the Canary Islands, 3 in MPECs 2009-R51, 2009-R52 & 2009-R53 -- 2009 RV1, 2009 RU1, 2009 RT1 |
| I21 | El Condor Obs. in Argentina, 3 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 QL8, 2009 QJ9, 68216 |
| 595 | Farra d'Isonzo Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2009-R52 -- 2009 RU1 |
| J95 | Great Shefford Obs. in England, 5 in MPECs 2009-R50, 2009-R51, 2009-R52 & 2009-R53 -- 2009 RV1, 2009 RU1, 2009 RT1, 2009 RR, 2009 RN |
| 442 | Gualba Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 217796 |
| A17 | Guidestar Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 RN, 2002 TE66 |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 5 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 218863, 17511, 17274, 163697, 433 |
| J75 | La Sagra Obs. in Spain, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 217683 |
| 844 | Los Molinos Obs. in Uruguay, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 RD1 |
| J46 | Montana Blanca Obs. in the Canary Islands, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 433 |
| J93 | Mt. Tuffley Obs. in England, 3 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 17274, 1943, 433 |
| D90. | Cristovao Jacques in Brazil via RAS Obs. Moorook in South Australia, 2 in MPECs 2009-R51 & 2009-R53 -- 2009 RV1, 2009 RT1 |
| D90` | K. Hills via RAS Obs. Moorook in South Australia, 1 in MPEC 2009-R51 -- 2009 RT1 |
| I20 | Rio Cuarto Obs. in Argentina, 1 in MPEC 2009-R51 -- 2009 RT1 |
| H36 | Sandlot Obs. in Kansas, 2 in MPECs 2009-R52 & 2009-R53 -- 2009 RV1, 2009 RU1 |
| E12 | Siding Spring Survey (SSS) in New South Wales, 3 in MPECs 2009-R50 & 2009-R51 -- 2009 RT1, 42286, 143651 |
| 587 | Sormano Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2009-R52 -- 2009 RU1 |
| 691 | Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona, 2 in MPECs 2009-R50 & 2009-R53 -- 2009 RV1, 17511 |
| 291 | Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona, 1 in MPEC 2009-R50 -- 2009 PQ1 |
| For a list of all participating observatories that have Web addresses, see A/CC's Observatory Links page. | |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 13 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 RR | JPL Sentry | 1654 | 2102-2108 | 11 | 2.5e-06 | -6.08 | -6.83 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 20 observations spanning 1.8608 days (2009-Sep-11.18242 to 2009-Sep-13.04322)." Diameter approximately 0.027 km. from mean, weighted H=25.5. |
| NEODyS | 1654 | R E M O V E D | - | ||||||
| 2009 RN | JPL Sentry | 1654 | 2091-2107 | 7 | 1.1e-08 | -5.80 | -6.02 | 0 | JPL: "Analysis based on 36 observations spanning 2.0685 days (2009-Sep-11.00009 to 2009-Sep-13.06858)." Diameter approximately 0.370 km. from mean, weighted H=19.8. |
| NEODyS | 1654 | R E M O V E D | - | ||||||
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 13 September '09
Times are UTC for when items were noted or added by The Tracking News.
| 2208 | Grabbed MPEC 2009-R51 - 2009 RT1 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2009-R52 - 2009 RU1 - see above Grabbed MPEC 2009-R53 - 2009 RV1 - see above |
| 1654 | Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2009 RN risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2009 RN as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL Sentry has updated its 2009 RR risk assessment - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2009 RR as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2009-R50 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
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