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Oct 25, 2017

The Moon Live -- Night of 2017-10-26

Weather permitting on Oct 26, 2017 at 7:45PM CDT/8:45PM EDT (Oct 24, 2017 00:45 UTC) see the moon live over the internet from from my apartment in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Using a Sky-Watcher 8" f/5.9 Traditional Dobsonian Telescope, 25mm Plossl Eyepiece, Filters, 2x Barlow Lens, Universal Astronomical Camera Adapter Smartphone Capturer Holder, and a Galaxy J3 6

Moon Live -Night of 2017-10-24

Oct 11, 2017

The Flyby By a "Astronomical Yard" of 2012 TC4


On 2017 October 12, the asteroid 2012 TC4 will flyby the Earth. This flyby has received a great deal of coverage in the media. When comes to media coverage of any asteroid flybys one of the most overused expressions is "close shave." Anyone who ever had to shave for work knows what a close shave is and what one is not. By comparing the solar system to the known universe, Pluto would be a "close shave" astronomically speaking. However, the subject at hand is the flyby of the Earth by an asteroid, therefor the Earth may serve a useful point of comparison.

If one wishes to simplify the matter, one could create a scale model of the Earth by way of a spreadsheet. If, one uses a ball with a diameter of 29.21 cm (11.5 inches) [this happen to be same as the as the length of a football ball(American)] to represent the Earth:

  • A CM would be 436.2204724 KM, an inch would be 1108 KM.
  • The International Space Station would be 9.2 mm away.
  • Geosynchronous orbit would be 820.4 mm, 0.8204 m, or 0.8972 yards
  • 2012 TC4 Nominal Distance(JPL)[2017-Oct-10] would be 1003.6 mm, 1.0036 m, or 1.0976 yards
  • Light-second would be 6872.5 mm, 6.8725 m, or 7.5159 yards
  • Lunar distance would be 8666.1 mm, 8.6661 m, or 9.4773 yards.
It should be noted since the start of The 2012 TC4 Observing Campaign the orbital uncertainty has been dramatically reduced. This many of made much of media coverage in the blogosphere out of date.
Useful Links:

Oct 8, 2017

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-07

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-07 from Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia (MPC Code Q62) useing  iTelescope.net's (TEL T30 0.50-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD + f/4.5 focal reducer)

Useful Links:

Oct 7, 2017

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 45-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-06 from AstroCamp Observatory. Nerpio, Spain (MPC I89) a stack of 15-60 Second Luminance BIN2 Images taken with iTelescope.net's (TEL T07 0.43-m f/6.8 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
Useful Links:

Oct 2, 2017

The Asteroid 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01

 

The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 34-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
 
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
The NEO 2012 TC4 on 2017-10-01 from
Sierra Remote Observatory. Auberry California USA (MPC U69)
a stack of 15-120 Second Luminance BIN2 Images
taken with iTelescope.net's
(TEL T24 0.61-m f/6.5 reflector + CCD)
(C) Steven M. Tilley
 Background
(as of 2017-10-01)

  •  Object: 2012 TC4
  • Orbit Type: Apollo [NEO]
  • Approximate Diameter: 12m- 27 m  (39.3701 feet to 88.5827  feet)(Absolute Magnitude: H= 26.7)
  • 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
    • NEODyS Recovery Campaign: 2017-08-31 to 2017-10-24
  • Discovery observation was made: 2012 10 04.467661
  • Discovery observation was made by Pan-STARRS 1 (MPC Code F51) The Discovery M.P.E.C.: MPEC 2012-T18 : 2012 TC4
  • Last Observation (publish): 2017 09 28.45648 (by the at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala  (MPC Code F51 ) )
  • Data-Arc Span (publish):  1820 days (4.98 years)
  • Number of Optical Observations(published):445
  • Observatories Reporting (Published) Observations(MPC Code):
    • (089) Nikolaev, Ukraine.
    • (104) San Marcello Pistoiese,Italy.
    •  (113) Drebach, Germany.
    • (204) Schiaparelli Observatory,Italy.
    • (291) LPL/Spacewatch II, US/Arizona.
    • (300) Bisei Spaceguard Center-BATTeRS, Japan. 
    • (309) Cerro Paranal, Chile. 
    • (461) Szeged University, PiszkéstetÅ‘ Stn. (Konkoly), Hungary. 
    • (470) Ceccano, Italy.
    • (695) Kitt Peak, US/Arizona. 
    • (703) Catalina Sky Survey, US/Arizona. 
    • (716) Palmer Divide Observatory, Colorado Springs, US/Colorado.
    • (718) Tooele  (N40.641406 W112.295800)  US/Utah.  
    • (807) Cerro Tololo Observatory, La Serena,Chile.   
    • (857) Iowa Robotic Observatory, Sonoita US/Arizona.
    • (900) Moriyama, Japan.
    • (932) John J. McCarthy Obs., New Milford, US/Connecticut.
    • (B04) OAVdA, Saint-Barthelemy,Italy.  
    • (B88) Bigmuskie Observatory, Mombercelli, Italy.
    • (C32) Ka-Dar Observatory, TAU Station, Nizhny Arkhyz, Russia.
    • (C77) Bernezzo Observatory, Italy.
    • (E10) Siding Spring-Faulkes Telescope South, Australia/NSW.
    • (F51) Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, US/Hawaii.
    • (F65) Haleakala-Faulkes Telescope North, US/Hawaii.
    • (G40) Slooh.com Canary Islands Observatory,Canary Islands (Spain). 
    • (G48) Harlingten Research Observatory, Rancho Hildalgo, US/New Mexico.
    • (G96) Mt. Lemmon Survey,US/Arizona.  
    • (H01) Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro, US/New   Mexico. 
    • (H06) iTelescope, Mayhill, US/New   Mexico. 
    • (H17) Angel Peaks Observatory,US/Colorado.
    • (H21) Astronomical Research Observatory, Westfield, US/Illinois. 
    • (H36) Sandlot Observatory, Scranton, US/Kansas.
    • (J04) ESA Optical Ground Station, Tenerife, Canary   Islands (Spain).  
    • (J16) An Carraig Observatory, Loughinisland,UK.
    • (J84) South Observatory, Clanfield,UK.
    • (J95) Great Shefford,UK.  
    • (T09) Mauna Kea-UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up (Subaru), US/Hawaii.
    • (T12) Mauna Kea-UH/Tholen NEO Follow-Up (2.24-m),US/Hawaii. 
    • (U69) iTelescope SRO Observatory, Auberry, US/California.  
    • (W85) Cerro Tololo-LCO A, Chile.
  •  Perihelion Distance: 0.9339351095314381(AU)
  •  Aphelion Distance:1.877536903700616(AU)
  • Earth MOID (Earth center to NEO center):0.000146791 AU (0.057( LD)), (3.446 Earth radii)  or 13,645.076 miles ( 21,959.471 (KM))
  • Next Close-Approach to Earth:  Will safely pass Earth on 2017-Oct-12 at a 
    • Minimum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335152723175429(AU) (0.13(LD)), (7.8697 Earth radii) or 31,154.392 miles (50,138.134(KM)) 
    • Nominal Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335252629744477(AU) (0.13(LD)), ( 7.8720 Earth radii) or 31,163.679 miles ( 50,153.08(KM))
    • Maximum Distance(Earth center to NEO center) of 0.000335352538623426(AU) (0.13 (LD)), (7.8744 Earth radii) or 31,172.966 miles (50,168.026(KM))   
  •  Goldstone Asteroid Schedule: Yes  2017 Oct ( Needs Astrometry: No Physical Observations Yes)