There has been much talk on social media about a bus-size asteroid designate "2015 YB". What made 2015 YB newsworthy was that "know" astrometry(observational data) when use for orbital calculation generated orbital elements (if valid) predicted a close approach of less than 0.2 lunar distances to Earth. However some of the observational data was erroneous. When other observers from around the try to do followup observation they could not find 2015 YB and starred asking why it was not where it would be if its orbital elements where if valid. So the bad observations where withdrawn, pre-discovery observations located and the designation 2015 YB was retracted the object was returnd to the NEOCP under its observer-assigned temporary designations. With the additional observations orbital elements could be generated that show that it has a Hungaria-type orbit so it is not a NEO. On 2015-12-19 using the new orbital elements I was able to image a object make observations and report the observations. Note objects on the NEOCP are "preliminary until they appear on an MPEC or MPS" when the new designation appears on an MPEC or MPS I will publish my images.
However the designation was retracted on Friday night (of weekend near Christmas) and the close approach would have been hours away so many people did not get the word and (most likely) pre-written stories where post to the net, and then the stories whould be share and re-share. JPL has remove the "phantom" 2015 YB from there web page... they shoud it is not "real" when more confirming observations come in to show that it is "real" the object will get a designation and appear on an MPEC or MPS it will be put back on the JPL web page( I do not work there can not say why it would not be there).
It did not hit the Erth, the two(2014 AA and 2008 TC3) SMALL "asteroid" that where known before hiting Earth have designations and can be found on JPL web page (2014 AA and 2008 TC3) .
Dec 19, 2015
Asteroid 2015 YB an Asteroid that will NOT brush by the Earth on 2015-12-19
As amateur astronomer I enjoy making and observation reporting asteroids and comets. When they are in the news it makes it more enjoyble. On 2015-12-17 read a messages from Bill Gray of Project Pluto on the The Minor Planet Mailing List {MPML} about an interesting object on the NEO Confirmation Page. Later in the day The Minor Planet Center issue Minor Planet Electronic Circular(MPEC): MPEC 2015-Y15 : 2015 YB announcing the discovery 2015 YB. What made 2015 YB an interesting object is the it would have passed with in 0.2 Lunar Distances of Eath. Goldstone requested astrometry to aid in their radar observations of 2015 YB.
So I gave it a go first did run of 30 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on on itelescope.net's (TEL T18 0.32-m f/8.0 astrograph + CCD) at AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC Code I89) however I had a bad set of orbital elements. Leter on 2015-12-18 with better set of orbital elements did second run 30 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images (T18) with no luck. Then I try a run 14 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on on itelescope.net's (TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 astrograph + CCD) Auberry California USA - MPC U69. It was time for bed I call it a night.
On the monring of the 2015-12-18 I check MPEC 2015-Y19 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2015 DEC. 18 UT) and saw that there were no new observations of 2015 YB and then check the NEOCP Blog and found that other observers could not find "2015 YB". It turn out that an observer reported observations that where false detections. On 2015-12-19 MPEC 2015-Y31 : RETRACTION OF 2015 YB was issue, stating that the designation 2015 YB was being retracted, poor observations being thrown out, object was returnd to the NEOCP under its observer-assigned temporary designations, other technical details, and that it had Hungaria-type orbit (not a NEO so no brush by the Earth on 2015-12-19 )
I was hoping make blog post showing images of Asteroid 2015 YB and tell you about how it will brush by the Earth on 2015-12-19. However I can not because I will not.
I am part of community of independent observers and that is the real enjoyment.
So I gave it a go first did run of 30 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on on itelescope.net's (TEL T18 0.32-m f/8.0 astrograph + CCD) at AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC Code I89) however I had a bad set of orbital elements. Leter on 2015-12-18 with better set of orbital elements did second run 30 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images (T18) with no luck. Then I try a run 14 - 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on on itelescope.net's (TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 astrograph + CCD) Auberry California USA - MPC U69. It was time for bed I call it a night.
On the monring of the 2015-12-18 I check MPEC 2015-Y19 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2015 DEC. 18 UT) and saw that there were no new observations of 2015 YB and then check the NEOCP Blog and found that other observers could not find "2015 YB". It turn out that an observer reported observations that where false detections. On 2015-12-19 MPEC 2015-Y31 : RETRACTION OF 2015 YB was issue, stating that the designation 2015 YB was being retracted, poor observations being thrown out, object was returnd to the NEOCP under its observer-assigned temporary designations, other technical details, and that it had Hungaria-type orbit (not a NEO so no brush by the Earth on 2015-12-19 )
I was hoping make blog post showing images of Asteroid 2015 YB and tell you about how it will brush by the Earth on 2015-12-19. However I can not because I will not.
I am part of community of independent observers and that is the real enjoyment.
Nov 6, 2015
Confirmation images of Comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) on 2015-11-04
The comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) was discovered on 2015-11-03 by Jess A. Johnson at the Catalina Sky Survey( MPC Code 703). While C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) was on the Possible Comet Confirmation Page in an effort to help in the confirmation I obtain a total of 18-- 60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images (in two runs) on itelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer) at Mayhill, New Mexico (New Mexico Skies) - MPC H06 and created 4 stacks of 4 images with Astrometrica.
Other links:
 |
| Confirmation image of Comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) on 2015-11-04 05:18:08 (UTC) 4 x 60 Sec Stacked @ 0.292 "/min P.A. 13.7 MPC Code H06 using itelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer) (c) Steven M. Tilley |
 |
| Confirmation image of Comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) on 2015-11-04 05:23:13 (UTC) 4 x 60 Sec Stacked @ 0.292 "/min P.A. 13.7 MPC Code H06 using itelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)(c) Steven M. Tilley |
 |
| Confirmation image of Comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) on 2015-11-04 07:00:27 (UTC) 4 x 60 Sec Stacked @ 0.292 "/min P.A. 13.1 MPC Code H06 using itelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)(c) Steven M. Tilley |
 |
| Confirmation image of Comet C/2015 V2 (JOHNSON) on 2015-11-04 07:08:00 (UTC) 4 x 60 Sec Stacked @ 0.292"/min P.A. 13.1 MPC Code H06 using itelescope.net's (TEL T11 0.50-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)(c) Steven M. Tilley |
Other links:
Oct 27, 2015
The Asteroid 2015 TB145
Background
(as of 2015-10-26)
- Object: 2015 TB145
- Approximate Diameter:290 m - 650 m (951.4 feet to 2132.5 feet) ( Absolute Magnitude: H= 19.8)
- Orbit Type: Apollo [PHA]
- On the Sentry Risk Table: NO (Never has been listed )
- On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: NO
- First Observed was made on: 2015 10 10.53168
- First Observed By: Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2015-T86 : 2015 TB145 For infomation on how discoverer is defined read MPEC 2010-U20 : EDITORIAL NOTICE
- Last Observed: 2015 10 26.06698
- Data-Arc Span: 16 days
- Number Oppositions :1
- Number of Observations Made: 332
- Next Close-Approach: Will safely pass Earth on 2015-Oct-31 at Nominal Distance of 0.00325372898223908 AU (1.266(LD)) or 302,453.004 miles or (486,750.928 KM)
- On the Goldstone Asteroid Schedule: YES Dates: 2015 Oct 30-31( Needs Astrometry: Yes Physical Observations: Yes)
- On the Arecibo Asteroid Schedule: YES, Dates: 2015 Oct 30-31 (Request Optical Astrometry: YES , Request Optical Lightcurve:YES, Request Optical Characterization YES)
 |
| A 120 Second Luminance BIN2 image of the asteroid 2015 TB145 taken on
2015-10-22 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain - (MPC Code - I89) itelescope.net's (TEL T7 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD) (C) Steven M. Tilley |
 |
| The asteroid 2015 TB145 45 x 60 Sec Stacked @ 0.371 "/min P.A. 28.6 MPC Code Q62 using itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) 2015-10-24 14:12:09 UTC (c) Steven M. Tilley |
Part 1:
Part 2:
Astrometrica object verification window moving object detection 4-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images Taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 0n 2015-10-24 from 13:38 to 14:42 UTC
Part 3
A 45x60 Sec Stacked @ 0.371 "/min P.A. 28.6 MPC Code Q62 on (T27) 2015-10-24 (C) Steven M. Tilley
Other links:
- Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2015 TB145
- (MPC) Observations 2015 TB145
- JPL Orbit Diagram 2015 TB145
- NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL)
- The Tracking News
- NEO Coordination Centre
- ALERT! Bright NEO 2015 TB145 on 29-31 October, 2015
- CometWatch Halloween Asteroid Flyby
- Possible October 31 Meteors From Minor Planet 2015 TB_145
- NASA Spots the 'Great Pumpkin': Halloween Asteroid a Treat for Radar Astronomers
- Close-in Asteroid Offers Halloween Treat
- How to See the Spooktacular Halloween Flyby of Asteroid 2015 TB145
Oct 2, 2015
The Recovery on 2nd Opposition of the Asteroid 2011 YS62 From 2015-09-26 To 2015-09-28
Observing Runs Looking for 2011 YS62 from 2015-08-26 to 2015-08-28
When
it comes to target selection there two criteria I use first is would additional
observations be useful, the second is the target in range of the telescope's
capability. To find targets I check one or all of the lists (see below) and see
if the target is range of the telescope's capability (if it is important I will
push the limit of the range) Then I will plan an observing run. Recently I checked the Arecibo Asteroid
Schedule and I saw they had requested optical astrometry for 2011 YS62. At the time this asteroid had a data-arc span
of 89 days and had been unobserved for 1314 days (3.597 years)
First Night
I first did run of 15 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27), with no luck,. Next I used Find_Orb to generate new orbital elements with Epoch 2015 Sep 26.0 and did a another run 15. I also used Find_Orb's Monte Carlo function to generate a lot of clones(virtual asteroids) orbital elements and then manually add them to Astrometrica's MPCOrb.dat file. Then I created 3 stacks of 5 images and found a moving object near the known object box of one of the clones. I assigned a temporary designation to the object and submitted night one's observations to the Minor Planet Center.
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (1 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 5 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (2 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 5 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (1 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 5 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
Second Night
Using Find_Orb I generated two
orbits one was with just night one’s observations, the other with 2011 YS62 and
night one's observations (“updated orbit”) and manually replaced the
"clones" orbital elements. Next I ran a series of 6-120
Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's
(TEL T27) and created a stacks of 5 images and found an object at
the known object box for the "updated orbit". Then I ran a second run of 6 images and created
a stack of 5 and saw that the object was moving. Later on I ran another run of 15 images
and created a 3 more stacks of 5 images. I assigned a (new) temporary
designation to the object and submitted the second night’s observations to
the Minor Planet Center. Shortly thereafter the object was listed on the
NEO Confirmation Page.
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (1 of 5 Second Night ) a stacks 5 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (2 of 5 Second Night ) a stacks 5- 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (3 of 5 Second Night ) a stacks 5- 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (4 of 5 Second Night ) a stacks 5- 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (3 of 5 Second Night ) a stacks 5- 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
Third Night
I did the same orbit update has I did the night before then, I obtain 32--120 Second Luminance BIN2 images with itelescope.net's (TEL T27) and created 3 stacks of 10 image and submitted the third night observations to the Minor Planet Center using the designation that was on the NEO Confirmation Page.
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (1 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 10 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (2 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 10 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
 |
| Astrometrica object verification window a stack (3 of 3 First Night ) a stacks 10 - 120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (TEL T27 0.70-m f/6.6 CDK astrograph + CCD) at Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) |
Background
(as of 2015-09-30)
- Object: 2011 YS62
- Approximate Diameter: 310 m - 680 m (1017.06 feet to 2230.97 feet) ( Absolute Magnitude: H= 19.7 )
- Orbit Type: Amor
- First Observed was made on: 2011 12 29.15398
- First Observed By: Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51)
- Assignment of asterisk: Catalina Sky Survey (MPC Code 703) For infomation on how discoverer is defined read MPEC 2010-U20 : EDITORIAL NOTICE
- Last Observed: 2015 09 28.58389
- Data-Arc Span: 1405 days (3.85 yr)
- Number Oppositions :2
- Number of Observations Made: 85
- Next Close-Approach: Will safely pass Earth on 2015-Nov-2 at Nominal Distance of 0.0914513682160852 AU (35.59(LD)) or 8,500,935.758 miles or ( 13,680,929.957 KM)
- On the Goldstone Asteroid Schedule: NO
- On the Arecibo Asteroid Schedule: YES, Dates: 2015 Nov 29 (Request Optical Astrometry: No(It was request before recovery was made), Request Optical Lightcurve:NO, Request Optical Characterization NO)
- The NEO Confirmation Page
- The Possible Comet Confirmation Page
- JPL's Sentry Risk Table
- the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page:
- Spaceguard Central Node's Priority List
- Near-Earth Object Human Space Flight Accessible Targets Study (NHATS)
- The Goldstone Asteroid Schedule
- The Arecibo Asteroid Schedule
- The Minor Planet Center(has some useful tools)
- Near Earth Objects Dynamic Site--2011 YS62
- (MPC) Observations 2011 YS62
- JPL Orbit Diagram 2011 YS62
- NEO Earth Close Approaches (JPL)
- The Tracking News
- NEO Coordination Centre
- MPC's Guide to Minor Body Astronomy
- MPC Editorial Notice 2011-E67
- List of removed objects
- Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale
- The Torino Impact Hazard Scale
- Impact Risk Assessment: An Introduction
- Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object
- Understanding Risk Pages by Jon Giorgini
Sep 19, 2015
The Asteroid 2015 RS1 on 2015-09-13
The Asteroid 2015 RS1 (Orbit Type:Amor [NEO])
60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with
itelescope.net's
(TEL T21 0.43-m f/6.8 astrograph + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)
Mayhill, New Mexico (New Mexico Skies) - MPC H06
on 2015-09-13 From 03:22 to 04:11 (UTC)
(C) Steven M. Tilley Other
links:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)