Asteroid(and comet) observing is done by taking a series of images of a section of the night sky over a period of time with a telescope and CCD. Then data reduction is performed on the images looking for moving objects. The observer needs to make two or more observation for each moving object. All “known” objects have a designation, if the observer knows the object’s designation the observation can be reported using the object's designation. If the observer is not trying to identify objects, it is an unknown object or if there is any doubt, an observer-assigned temporary designation is used. The Minor Planet Center’s(MPC) computers check to see if any observations reported with an observer-assigned temporary designation matchs a “known” objects, If any are "unknown" and its "NEO score is 65” it is posted to “The NEOConfirmation Page”(NEOCP).
Many observers watch the NEOCP and do follow-up observation on listed objects. As more observational data comes in better orbital elements can be generated, the "unknown" object may be shown to be a "known" object or shown to be a "new" object. When there are enough observations to generate useful orbital elements the object is assigned a provisional designation by the Minor Planet Center if the object is a NEO, a comet, or unusual a Minor Planet Electronic Circular will be issued. It is possible over time with additional observational data two or more provisional designations maybe link showing they are the same object. After four well-observed oppositions for main-belt (two to three for NEOs), asteroids are given a number ( or their permanent designation and they are eligible to be named by the discoverer).
While many observers will targete NEOs for follow-up observations however other asteroids( i.e., Mars-crossers, main-belt, etc.) may be neglected and over time may become "lost." On 2016-10-19 a new object was found by Pan-STARRS 1, it was posted to the NEOCP. Three more observatories submitted observations, and on 2016-10-20.92 it was shown to be a Mars-crossing asteroid and the MPC assigned it the provisional designation 2016 UG. Since it was not a NEO and pose no danger to Earth, no one targeted it for any follow-up observations. Then on 2016-11-14 Pan-STARRS 1 reported observations for an object under an observer-assigned temporary designation and it was posted to the NEOCP. Then observations were reported from two more observatories(including myself), and on 2016-11-16.06 the "new" NEOCP object was shown to be the Mars-crossing asteroid, 2016 UG and the orbital elements were updated.
Many observers watch the NEOCP and do follow-up observation on listed objects. As more observational data comes in better orbital elements can be generated, the "unknown" object may be shown to be a "known" object or shown to be a "new" object. When there are enough observations to generate useful orbital elements the object is assigned a provisional designation by the Minor Planet Center if the object is a NEO, a comet, or unusual a Minor Planet Electronic Circular will be issued. It is possible over time with additional observational data two or more provisional designations maybe link showing they are the same object. After four well-observed oppositions for main-belt (two to three for NEOs), asteroids are given a number ( or their permanent designation and they are eligible to be named by the discoverer).
While many observers will targete NEOs for follow-up observations however other asteroids( i.e., Mars-crossers, main-belt, etc.) may be neglected and over time may become "lost." On 2016-10-19 a new object was found by Pan-STARRS 1, it was posted to the NEOCP. Three more observatories submitted observations, and on 2016-10-20.92 it was shown to be a Mars-crossing asteroid and the MPC assigned it the provisional designation 2016 UG. Since it was not a NEO and pose no danger to Earth, no one targeted it for any follow-up observations. Then on 2016-11-14 Pan-STARRS 1 reported observations for an object under an observer-assigned temporary designation and it was posted to the NEOCP. Then observations were reported from two more observatories(including myself), and on 2016-11-16.06 the "new" NEOCP object was shown to be the Mars-crossing asteroid, 2016 UG and the orbital elements were updated.
Observations Made Before the Object Was Updates.
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-15 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 5 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-15 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 5 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-15 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 5 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-15 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 15 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
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A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-16
from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 5 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
|
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-16 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 5 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
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| A image of the asteroid 2016 UG on 2016-11-16 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) a stack of 15 - 120 second luminance BIN2 images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
Background
(as of 2016-11-17)
- Object: 2016 UG
- Approximate Diameter: 1 km - 2 km (0.621371 miles to 1.24274 miles) (Absolute Magnitude: H= 17.683)
- Orbit Type: Mars-crossing Asteroid
- First Observation was made: 2016 10 19.51822
- First Observed By: Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51)
- MPECs
- MPEC 2016-U29 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2016 OCT. 21 UT)
- MPEC 2016-W01 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2016 NOV. 16 UT)
- MPEC 2016-W03 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2016 NOV. 17 UT)
- Data-Arc Span: 28 days
Other links:
