15 000 space rocks and counting

The international effort to find, confirm and catalogue the multitude of asteroids that pose a threat to our planet has reached a milestone: 15,000 discovered – with many more to go. For Infomation see 15 000 space rocks and counting,Catalog of Known Near-Earth Asteroids Tops 15,000

A Confirmation Image of The NEO 2016 UE On 2016-10-20

A confirmation image of the Near-Earth Object 2016 UE
on 2016-10-20 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
 a stack of 4 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley



See:

• MPEC 2016-U25 : 2016 UE
• JPL Orbit Diagram 2016 UE 

Confirmation of the comet C/2016 T1 (Matheny)

 Background

(as of 2016-10-13)

•  Object:  Comet C/2016 T1 (Matheny)
• Absolute Magnitude: M1= 13.0 
• Orbit Type: Parabolic Comet
• First Observed was made on: 2016 10 06.09330
• First Observed  By: Rose Matheny at Mt. Lemmon Survey, Arizona, USA (MPC Code G96)  
• The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2016-T117: COMET C/2016 T1 (Matheny) 
• The Discovery CBET: 4328: 20161011 : COMET C/2016 T1 (MATHENY)
• Last Observed(publish):2016 10 11.82329 (by Bernezzo Observatory, Italy.(MPC Code C77))
• Data-Arc Span(publish) : 5 days
• Number of Observations(published): 93
• Perihelion Distance:  2.319492699700049 (AU)

 

A confirmation image of the comet C/2016 T1 (Matheny)
on 2016-10-07 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain - (MPC Code I89)
 a stack of 50 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images using
 itelescope.net's (t18 TEL 0.32-m f/8.0 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley

A confirmation image of the comet C/2016 T1 (Matheny) 
on 2016-10-07 from Auberry California USA - (MPC Code U69) 
a stack of 53 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images using 
itelescope.net's (t24 TEL 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD) 
(C) Steven M. Tilley

Other links: 

• (MPC) Observations COMET C/2016 T1 (Matheny)
• JPL Orbit Diagram Comet C/2016 T1 (Matheny)
• The Tracking News
• Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
• The Possible Comet Confirmation Page 

The Asteroid 2009 ES Past Safely then Someone Said Something and The Internet Goes Crazy

 Background

(as of 2016-10-10)

•  Object:  2009 ES 
• Approximate Diameter: 210  m - 470 m (688.976  feet to 1541.99 feet)(Absolute Magnitude:  H= 20.5 ) --(NOT 10 km)
• Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO]  Potentially Hazardous Asteroid
• On the Sentry Risk Table:  No  Removed on  2009-03-18 10:56  
• On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: No  Removed see The Tracking News(Wednesday, 18 March 2009) 
• First Observed was made on: 2009 03 02.21182
• First Observed  By: Mt. Lemmon Survey, Arizona, USA (MPC Code G96) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2009-E19 : 2009 ES see The Tracking News(Tuesday, 3 March 2009) 
• Last Observed(publish):2016 10 06.09155 (by Arkansas Sky Obs., Petit Jean Mountain South (MPC Code H45))
• Data-Arc Span(publish) : 2775 days (7.60 yr)
• Number of Observations(published): 166
• Observatories Reporting Observations(published):
• Arkansas Sky Obs., Petit Jean Mountain South, Arkansas, USA
• Castelmartini, Italy.
• Cerro Tololo Observatory, La Serena, Chile. 
• Eschenberg Observatory, Winterthur, Switzerland.
• Fabra Observatory, Barcelona, Spain.
• Kitt Peak, Arizona, USA
• Klet Observatory-KLENOT, Czech Republic.
• Kyiv comet station, Ukraine.
• LPL/Spacewatch II, Arizona, USA
• Mount John Observatory, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand.
• Mt. Lemmon Survey, Arizona, USA
• Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro  New Mexico, US
• Observatorio Tesla, Valdemorillo, Spain.
• Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala,  Hawaii, USA
• SONEAR Observatory, Oliveira, Brazil.
• Schiaparelli Observatory, Italy.
• Sternwarte Mirasteilas, Falera, Switzerland.
• Perihelion Distance: 0.9619118307549718(AU)
• Aphelion Distance: 1.907532258830227(AU)
• Earth MOID:  0.0390574 AU (15.2 (LD)) or 3,630,612.147 miles (5,842,903.875(KM))
• Last Close-Approach to Earth:  Passed the Earth on 2016-Sep-05 at a Nominal Distance of 0.0483771077875026 (AU), (18.827 Lunar Distance (LD)), or 4,496,933.108 miles (7,237,112.315 (KM))
• Next Close-Approach to Mars: Will pass Mars on 2017-Oct-18 at Nominal Distance of 0.00457422070311273 (AU) (1.78(LD)) or 425,200.378 miles (684,293.677(KM))
• Next Close-Approach to Earth: Will safely pass Earth on 2028-Sep-18 at Nominal Distance of 0.323012120161073 (AU) (125.707(LD)) or 30,025,852.387 miles (48,321,925.383 (KM))

The NEO 2009 ES on 2016-09-20 (Astrometrica) a stack of 4 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer) at (MPC Code H06) Mayhill, New Mexico (New Mexico Skies) By Steven M. Tilley

Tweets(Before Purple Mountain Observatory's Report)

Asteroid Earth Impact - 5-Day Forecast:

ALL CLEAR!

With Occasional Earth Flybys pic.twitter.com/Csz50RHsKY

— Ron Baalke (@RonBaalke) September 3, 2016

A large ~350-meter asteroid, 2009 ES, passes safely by the Earth today (19 Lunar Distance) pic.twitter.com/KPhIpnCFWN

— Ron Baalke (@RonBaalke) September 5, 2016

Asteroid 2009 ES flyby in ~ 30 mins (Sep 5 at 19:24 UT). Dist: 18.83 LD. Size: 150-470 m. https://t.co/Ox8KTKqbmm

— Minor Planet Center (@MinorPlanetCtr) September 5, 2016

asteroid (2009 ES) missed earth by 19 lunar distances: diameter ~340 m, velocity 18.06 km/s, energy ~2 gigatons. https://t.co/tGkAZRSqPP

— Asteroids and Comets (@AsteroidMisses) September 5, 2016

Note before Purple Mountain Observatory's Report 2009 ES just a NEO with well know orbit. Any danger into the foreseeable future from 2009 ES was ruled out on 2009-03-18 10:56(UTC).

Purple Mountain Observatory's Report

No panic! China telescope captures images of Earth-approaching asteroid for 1st time https://t.co/atY8QJ4rWB pic.twitter.com/wWzEcAPnkY

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) September 8, 2016

Telescope at Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing captured images of #asteroid 2009ES approaching Earth. #Jiangsu pic.twitter.com/FixXW16B9C

— Jiangsu China (@loveJiangsu) September 9, 2016

 

Then as this story moved through the blogosphere, it changed like the "telephone game." The report was misread, poorly translated, misunderstood, etc. then rewritten by other writers with the wrong information.  Then other writers then use the revised stories as sources for new stories adding to the madness. One should seek out the original story(and see if it is reliable), and check for reliable information from some of the reliable sources such as the Minor Planet Center, NASA NEO Program Office at JPL, ESA's NEODyS (Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site), or The Tracking News.  I am not posting links to the crazy stories, Just Google Asteroid  2009 ES  and see for yourself.

 

Other links:

• Space Situational Awareness(ESA)  2009 ES
• Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2009 ES
• (MPC) Observations 2009 ES 
• JPL Orbit Diagram 2009 ES 
• NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL)
• MPC Asteroid Data Explorer(Asteroid: 2009 ES)
• The Tracking News 
• NEO Coordination Centre 
• Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
• Asteroid Hazards: The View from Space(MPC) 
• Understanding Risk Pages By Jon Giorgini
•  An Asteroid as Entered the Blogosphere… Should I Be Worried? A commentary by Steven M. Tilley
•  Don’t fear apocalyptic asteroids: you’re safer than you think 

Correction: (as of 2016-10-25) was corrected to say (as of 2016-10-10) the date of the post

Confirmation of the Near-Earth Object 2016 TJ17

Confirmation image of the Near-Earth Object 2016 TJ17 (absolute magnitude =25.4 ~28m) 
on 2016-10-08 a stack of 9-60 second luminance BIN2 taken 
with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD) 
at Observatory: Siding Spring - Australia (MPC code Q62)
By Steven M. Tilley

 

 Background

(as of 2016-10-09)

•  Object:  2016 TJ17
• Approximate Diameter: 22 m - 160.761 m(72.1785 feet to 1541.99 feet)( Absolute Magnitude:  H= 25.409 )
• Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO]
• On the Sentry Risk Table:  No  (Never has been listed )
• On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: No 
• First Observed was made on: 2016 10 06.27431
• First Observed  By: Catalina Sky Survey, Arizona,USA (MPC Code 703) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2016-T82 : 2016 TJ17 see The Tracking News(Saturday, 8 October 2016) 
• Last Observed(publish):2016 10 09.26048
• Data-Arc Span(publish) : 3 days
  
•  Number of Observations(publish): 58
• Perihelion Distance:  0.7816366260606531
• Aphelion Distance: 3.537812747373569
• Earth MOID:   0.00117955(0.459 (LD)) 109,646.022 or miles (176,458.168 (KM))
• Last Close-Approach to Earth:  Passed the Earth on  at a Nominal Distance of 0.0031372716407202  (AU), (1.221Lunar Distance (LD)), or 291,627.618 miles ( 469,329.157(KM))

    Other links:

• Space Situational Awareness(ESA)  2016 TJ17
• Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2016 TJ17
• (MPC) Observations 2016 TJ17 
• JPL Orbit Diagram 2009 ES 
• NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL)
• The Tracking News 
• NEO Coordination Centre 
• Speed of Light - Space - Distance Calculator
• Asteroid Hazards: The View from Space(MPC) 
• Understanding Risk Pages By Jon Giorgini
•  An Asteroid as Entered the Blogosphere… Should I Be Worried? A commentary by Steven M. Tilley
•  Don’t fear apocalyptic asteroids: you’re safer than you think 
• The NEO Confirmation Page(MPC) 
•  Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object  by Birtwhistle et al.