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Aug 10, 2018

The of Confirmation of the Asteroid the 2018 PL9

On 2018-08-07 at ~ 10:30 UTC  observers with ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System) imaged a "new" asteroid.  Over the next  ~ 35 minutes, the  ATLAS term would take three additional observations.  The observations were submitted to the Minor Planet Center(MPC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts using the observer-assigned temporary designation A107TVP.  This  "new" asteroid was posted to the NEO Confirmation Page(NEOCP) informing observers around the world that "A107TVP" needed confirmation observations.  
  
Asteroid Orbit diagram for 2018 PL9 [NEO(Amor)]
Approximate Diameter 350 to 900 Meters
2018-08-07 10:30 UTC  
courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltec
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018PL9

Asteroid Orbit diagram for 2018 PL9 [NEO(Amor)]
Approximate Diameter 350 to 900 Meters
2018-08-07 10:30 UTC  
courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltec
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018PL9
About five hours later I checked the NEOCP saw A107TVP listed(by this time it had "precovery" observations from Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala.), and decided to take confirmation images. I had iTelescope.Net's T30 to started taking 60 second luminance BIN2 images and was able to obtain 28 images. I use Astrometrica to do the data reduction by way of the stack and track method. I had Astrometrica stack 3 sets(stacks) of 9 images.  Each image was shifted match movement of A107TVP.
A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-07
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 9 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley
A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-07
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 9 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley



A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-07
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 9 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley

I submitted three observations of A107TVP to the MPC in the "new" "Astrometry Data Exchange Standard (ADES)" format [PSV -"Pipe Separated Values"] at 2018-08-07T18:00:23.907Z. I got the  automatic acknowledgement e-mail at  18:03 (UTC) and an "Automated NEOCP candidate posting results" e-mail at 18:11 (UTC).

On 2018-08-08 I took  and submitted  three additional observations.

A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-08
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 10 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley

A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-08
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 10 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley

A confirmation image of the NEOCP(NEO Confirmation Page)
object A107TVP(now 2018 PL9) on 2018-08-08
 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62) 
a stack of 10 - 60 second luminance BIN2 images 
 taken with iTelescope.net's (T30) 
 By Steven M. Tilley
Over three days the following observatories  submitted observations of A107TVP:


  • (711) McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas,US
  • (850) Cordell-Lorenz Observatory, Sewanee, Tennessee, US 
  • (E23) Arcadia,NSW, Australia.
  • (F51) Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, Hawaii, US   
  • (J04) ESA Optical Ground Station, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
  • (L01) Višnjan Observatory, Tican, Croatia. 
  • (P93) Space Tracking and Communications Center, JAXA, Japan.
  • (Q62) iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring,NSW, Australia. 
  • (T05) ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala, Hawaii,US.
  • (X31) Galileo Galilei Observatory, Oro Verde, Argentina.
  • (X74) Observatório Campo dos Amarais, Brazil.
On 2018-08-10 at 15:24 UTC the MPC Issued "MPEC 2018-P46 : 2018 PL9" assigning the provisonal designations "2018 PL9" to the "new" asteroid.


Aug 6, 2018

The Asteroid 2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)] on 2018-08-04

The Asteroid 2018 KE3 is an Amor (a Near-Earth asteroids whose orbits approach but does NOT cross Earth's orbit) with an estimated diameter of  400 M to 900 M(1312.34 Foot to 2952.76 Foot)  its MOID (Minimum orbit intersection distance) is 0.213016 AU(82.9 Lunar Distance (LD))

On 2018-08-04 I was able to obtain 40-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images on itelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD).

The Asteroid 2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,  Australia. (MPC Q62)
 a stack of 40-60 second  luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on stars]
By Steven M. Tilley
The Asteroid 2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,  Australia. (MPC Q62)
 a stack of 40-60 second  luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on stars]
By Steven M. Tilley
The Asteroid 2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,  Australia. (MPC Q62)
 a stack of 40-60 second  luminance BIN2
images taken with  iTelescope.net's
 (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
 [tracking  on asteroid]
By Steven M. Tilley

Asteroid Orbit diagram
for 2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018KE3

I use Astrometrica to do the data reduction by way of the stack and track method. I had Astrometrica stack 4 sets(stacks) of ten images. Each image was shifted match movement of 2018 KE3.
The Asteroid  2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,   Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 10-60 second luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on asteroid]
By Steven M. Tilley

The Asteroid  2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,   Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 10-60 second luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on asteroid]
By Steven M. Tilley
The Asteroid  2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,   Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 10-60 second luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on asteroid]
By Steven M. Tilley
The Asteroid  2018 KE3 [NEO(Amor)]
on 2018-08-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW,   Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 10-60 second luminance BIN2
images taken with iTelescope.net's (T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
[tracking  on asteroid]
By Steven M. Tilley
I submitted four observations of  2018 KE3 to the The Minor Planet Center(MPC) in  the "new" "Astrometry Data Exchange Standard (ADES)"  format [PSV -"Pipe Separated Values"]

On 2018-08-05 the MPC published "MPEC 2018-P10 : DAILY ORBIT UPDATE (2018 AUG. 5 UT)"  containing my 2018-08-04 observations. of  2018 KE3.

As more observations are made(over time) of  any given asteroid.---more accurate orbital elements can be computed (with lower uncertainties).  Here a test with  Find_Orb showing "small" improvement to the orbital elements for 2018 KE3 (before and after my 2018-08-04 2018-08-04 observations).

Find_Orb orbital elements for 2018 KE3 before my 2018-08-04 observations.
    Perihelion 2018 Aug 16.166920 +/- 0.000226 TT =  4:00:21 (JD 2458346.666920)
Epoch 2018 Mar 23.0 TT = JDT 2458200.5   Earth MOID: 0.2133   Find_Orb

M 323.12920834 +/- 0.0012           (J2000 ecliptic)
n   0.25225127241 +/- 8.32e-6       Peri.    3.43615306 +/- 0.00026
a   2.48073556073 +/- 5.45e-5       Node   321.10306305 +/- 0.00008
e   0.5058787539 +/- 9.59e-6        Incl.   10.22121421 +/- 0.00009
P   3.91                   H 19.2   G  0.15   U  4.9  
q 1.22578414642 +/- 3.25e-6    Q 3.73568697504 +/- 0.000106
From 83 observations 2018 May 25-Aug. 3; mean residual 0".26
Find_Orb orbital elements for 2018 KE3 after my 2018-08-04 observations.
   Perihelion 2018 Aug 16.167005 +/- 0.00021 TT =  4:00:29 (JD 2458346.667005)
Epoch 2018 Mar 23.0 TT = JDT 2458200.5   Earth MOID: 0.2133   Find_Orb
M 323.12863383 +/- 0.0011           (J2000 ecliptic)
n   0.25225505676 +/- 7.77e-6       Peri.    3.43628389 +/- 0.00023
a   2.48071074989 +/- 5.09e-5       Node   321.10299979 +/- 0.00007
e   0.5058744699 +/- 8.96e-6        Incl.   10.22118040 +/- 0.00009
P   3.91                   H 19.2   G  0.15   U  4.8
q 1.22578251419 +/- 3.02e-6    Q 3.73563898558 +/- 9.89e-5
From 87 observations 2018 May 25-Aug. 4; mean residual 0".26
If one would  to keep their eye JPL Small-Body Databas day afer day they see this 
"improvement" of  orbital elements and  lower uncertainties as well.


Screenshot of  JPL's Orbital Elements for 2018 KE3 before my 2018-08-04 observations. 
 Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018KE3
Screenshot of  JPL's Orbital Elements for 2018 KE3 after my 2018-08-04 observations. 
Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018KE3

Jul 5, 2018

The asteroid 2018 MR8 [NEOCP P10I7IV] on 2018-07-04

The asteroid 2018 MR8[NEOCP P10I7IV](Classification: Aten [NEO])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 13-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MR8[NEOCP P10I7IV](Classification: Aten [NEO])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 13-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MR8[NEOCP P10I7IV](Classification: Aten [NEO])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 13-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MR8[NEOCP P10I7IV](Classification: Aten [NEO])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 13-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Orbit Diagram for
The asteroid 2018 MR8(2018-07-04 14:00)
see https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2018MR8
Background
(as of 2018-07-04)
.

The asteroid 2018 MW6 on 2018-07-04

The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stacks of 10-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T27 TEL 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stacks of 10-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T27 TEL 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-07-04 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stacks of 10-60 second luminance BIN2 images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(T27 TEL 0.70-m f/6.6 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Orbit Diagram for The asteroid 2018 MW6(2018-07-04 12:30 UTC)
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Orbit Diagram for The asteroid 2018 MW6(2018-07-04 12:30 UTC)
Background
(as of 2018-07-04)
  •  Object: 2018 MW6
  • Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO, PHA]
  • Approximate Diameter: 310 m  -  770 m  (1017.06  feet to  2526.25 feet)(Absolute Magnitude: H= 19.436)
  • On the Sentry Risk Table:  No (Removed 2018-06-26 14:03:18)
  • On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: No (Removed)
  • Discovery observation was made: 2018 06 19.26519
  • Discovery observation was made by Mt. Lemmon Survey (MPC Code G96) The Discovery M.P.E.C.:MPEC 2018-M81 : 2018 MW6
  • Last Observation (publish): 2018 07 03.24029 (at  Steward Observatory, Mt. Lemmon Station  (MPC Code I52 ))
  • Data-Arc Span (publish): 14 days
  • Number of Optical Observations(published):68
  • Observatories Reporting (Published) Observations(MPC Code):
    • (246) Klet Observatory-KLENOT, Czech Republic.
    • (291) LPL/Spacewatch II, US/Arizona.
    • (691) Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak - Spacewatch, US/Arizona. 
    • (G96) Mt. Lemmon Survey, US/Arizona.
    • (H01) Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro, US/New Mexico
    • (H21) Astronomical Research Observatory, Westfield, US/Illinois.
    • (I52) Steward Observatory, Mt. Lemmon Station,  US/Arizona.
    • (J77) Golden Hill Observatory, Stourton Caundle, UK.
    • (J95) Great Shefford, UK.
    • (L01) Višnjan Observatory, Tičan, Croatia.
    • (Q62) iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring, Australia/NSW. 
    • (T12) Mauna Kea-UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up (2.24-m) US/Hawaii. 
  •  Perihelion Distance:0.7684431568362392(AU)
  •  Aphelion Distance: 6.056415878243476(AU)
Useful Links:

Jun 24, 2018

The asteroid 2018 MW6 on 2018-06-23


The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-06-23 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 22-60 second luminance BIN2 images taken with
iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-06-23 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 22-60 second luminance BIN2 images taken with
iTelescope.net's
(T17 TEL 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-06-23 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 15-60 second luminance BIN2 images taken with
iTelescope.net's
(T30 TEL 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-06-23 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 15-60 second luminance BIN2 images taken with
iTelescope.net's
(T30 TEL 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)
By Steven M. Tilley
The asteroid 2018 MW6(Classification: Apollo [NEO, PHA])
on 2018-06-23 from Siding Spring Observatory,
Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (MPC Q62)
a stack of 15-60 second luminance BIN2 images taken with
iTelescope.net's
(T30 TEL 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)
By Steven M. Tilley
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Orbit Diagram for The asteroid 2018 MW6(2018 Jun 23 13:00)
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Orbit Diagram for The asteroid 2018 MW6(2018 Jun 23 13:00)

 Background
(as of 2018-06-24)
  •  Object: 2018 MW6
  • Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO, PHA]
  • Approximate Diameter: 310 M  -  750 m  (1017.06  feet to  2460.63 feet)(Absolute Magnitude: H= 19.489)
  • On the Sentry Risk Table:  Yes 
    •  NOTE this is NOT a prediction of an impact but rather a statement there is insufficient observational data rule out an impact -- for more information read  Understanding Risk Pages by Jon Giorgini
  • Torino Scale 0
    • "The likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero. Also applies to small objects such as meteors and bodies that burn up in the atmosphere as well as infrequent meteorite falls that rarely cause damage.."
  • On the NEODyS CLOMON2 risk page: Yes
  • Discovery observation was made: 2018 06 19.26519
  • Discovery observation was made by Mt. Lemmon Survey (MPC Code G96) The Discovery M.P.E.C.:MPEC 2018-M81 : 2018 MW6
  • Last Observation (publish): 2018 06 23.67253 (at iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring  (MPC Code Q62 ) )
  • Data-Arc Span (publish): 4
  • Number of Optical Observations(published):48
  • Observatories Reporting (Published) Observations(MPC Code):
    • (246) Klet Observatory-KLENOT, Czech Republic.
    • (291) LPL/Spacewatch II,US/Arizona. 
    • (691) Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak - Spacewatch,US/Arizona. 
    • (G96) Mt. Lemmon Survey, US/Arizona.
    • (H01) Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro,US/New Mexico
    • (I52) Steward Observatory, Mt. Lemmon Station, US/Arizona.
    • (J77) Golden Hill Observatory, Stourton Caundle, UK.
    • (J95) Great Shefford,UK.  Observer 
    • (L01) Višnjan Observatory, Tičan, Croatia.
    • (Q62) iTelescope Observatory, Siding Spring, Australia/NSW.
  •  Perihelion Distance:0.7678873680374123(AU)
  •  Aphelion Distance: 6.093862873564613 (AU)
Useful Links: