15-21 May '06 - A/CC Small Object Report

ACC's Small Object Report for 15-21 May 2006

A semi-automated report compiled on 21 May 2006 at 2359 UTC

There are seven small asteroids reported in the last 168 hours, during which two were newly discovered.

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Editor's note: As asteroids go, "small" is defined as having an absolute magnitude (brightness) calculated at greater than H=22.0, which converts very roughly to a diameter under 135 meters. No matter how close they come to the Earth, the astronomical community does not classify such objects as "potentially hazardous." However, as demonstrated by the mile wide (1.6 km.) Barringer Crater in Arizona, blasted out by a "small" asteroid some 50,000 years ago, there are asteroids too small to be labeled "potentially hazardous" that actually could cause severe local damage. These are sometimes called "Tunguska-class objects" (TCOs), after the 1908 event probably caused by a comet fragment or asteroid too small to be classified today as hazardous but packing enough wallop to flatten a Siberian forest area the size of a large city.
NEODyS in December 2005 changed its main Risk page to classify "Objects too small to result in heavy damage on the ground" as having "absolute magnitude > 25," which corresponds to perhaps 35 meters wide. And JPL two months earlier started flagging (with a blue background) risk-listed objects of "Estimated diameter 50 meters or less" as "not likely to cause significant damage in the event of an impact, although impact damage does depend heavily upon the specific (and usually unknown) physical properties of the object in question."
Small asteroids that come close enough to Earth to be seen have significant potential for scientific study today, and for exploration and exploitation in the future. They present a sampling of distant asteroid populations and a few may be remnants of the event that created the Earth-Moon system.
Some of these objects are discovered while close to Earth moving across the sky quite quickly, when they are called "FMOs" or "VFMOs" (very fast moving objects). The discovery and follow-up tracking of asteroids with H>22.0 represents some of the most difficult and very best observing work being done today by amateur and professional astronomers around the world, and the page you are reading is dedicated to recognizing their ongoing successes.

Object Listings -- smallest objects first [ Alpha Index | 48 Hours | top ]

Size estimate: 37 meters per JPL H=24.83, MPC H=24.8 JPL classifies 2006 JT41 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.054455 AU (21.19 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 22.0 lunar distances (LD) on 16 April 2006. Lowell Observatory reports 2006 JT41 has an MOID of 0.04860 AU (18.91 LD) with Mars. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K21: Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291] 2006-05-20 0933-0948, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K21, follow-up (H) See also information from the week ending 14 May 2006. 2006 HZ5 (K06H05Z) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 41 meters per JPL H=24.61, MPC H=24.5 JPL classifies 2006 HZ5 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.010912 AU (4.25 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 7.4 LD on 2 April 2006 at 0311 UT. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K21: Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291] 2006-05-20 0959-1015, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K21, follow-up (H) See also information from the week ending 14 May 2006. 2006 KB1 (K06K01B) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 45 meters per MPC H=24.4 JPL reports this object passed Earth at 2.9 LD on 17 May 2006 at 2250 UT. The MPC reports this object has an Earth MOID of 0.0059 AU (2.3 LD) Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K22: Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) [703] 2006-05-20 0833-1025, 12 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, discovery (*) 2006-05-21 0839-0916, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12] 2006-05-20 1427-1633, 13 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation 2006-05-21 1335-1338, 5 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation Schiaparelli Obs. [204] 2006-05-20 2210-2220, 5 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation CEAMIG-REA [I77] 2006-05-21 0159-0207, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation McCarthy Obs. [932] 2006-05-21 0433-0452, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation Sabino Canyon Obs. [854] 2006-05-21 0441-0458, 5 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation New Mexico Skies [H06{2}] coded to Robert Hutsebaut via Rent-A-Scope 2006-05-21 0609-0630, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation Mt. Lemmon Survey (MLS) [G96] 2006-05-21 0818-0839, 7 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation North Ryde Obs. [423] 2006-05-21 1211-1317, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-K22, confirmation 2006 HW50 (K06H50W) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 46 meters per JPL H=24.34, MPC H=24.4 JPL classifies 2006 HW50 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.020647 AU (8.03 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 12.5 LD on 24 April 2006. Lowell Observatory reports 2006 HW50 has an MOID of 0.02902 AU (11.29 LD) with Mars. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K21: Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291] 2006-05-20 1024-1035, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K21, follow-up Pla D'Arguines Obs. [941] 2006-05-20 2213-2219, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-K21, follow-up See also information from the week ending 7 May 2006. 2006 JM6 (K06J06M) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 62 meters per JPL H=23.67, MPC H=23.7 JPL classifies 2006 JM6 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.031910 AU (12.42 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 19.0 LD on 14 May 2006. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K11: Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12] 2006-05-16 0949-1004, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K11, follow-up See also information from the week ending 14 May 2006. 2006 CL9 (K06C09L) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 96 meters per JPL H=22.73, MPC H=22.8 JPL classifies 2006 CL9 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.039809 AU (15.49 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 18.6 LD on 25 Feb. 2006. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-K02: Verona Obs. [A48] 2006-03-23 2115-2139, 4 pos in MPEC 2006-K02, follow-up See also information from the week ending 9 April 2006. 2006 KC (K06K00C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 122 meters per JPL H=22.21, MPC H=22.2 JPL classifies 2006 KC as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.032234 AU (12.54 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 16.3 LD on 10 May 2006. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-K15 and 2006-K21: Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) [703] 2006-05-19 0755-0948, 10 pos in MPEC 2006-K15, discovery (*) New Mexico Skies [H06{2}] coded to Robert Hutsebaut via Rent-A-Scope 2006-05-19 1020-1033, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K15, confirmation 2006-05-20 0843-0859, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K21, follow-up Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12] 2006-05-19 1211-1213, 5 pos in MPEC 2006-K15, confirmation Mt. John Obs. [474] 2006-05-19 1257-1301, 3 pos in MPEC 2006-K15, confirmation

48+120 Hours [ Objects Listings (size order) | Object Index (alpha/xref) | top ]

Observations of seven small objects were reported during the last 168 hours: 2006 CL9, 2006 HW50, 2006 HZ5, 2006 JM6, 2006 JT41, 2006 KB1 & 2006 KC in MPECs: 2006-K02 time-stamped 2006 May 17, 06:11 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-K11 time-stamped 2006 May 18, 06:11 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-K15 time-stamped 2006 May 19, 14:20 UT - 2006 KC 2006-K21 time-stamped 2006 May 21, 06:12 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-K22 time-stamped 2006 May 21, 17:02 UT - 2006 KB1 Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page: JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 May 21, 1552 UTC JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 May 21, 1558 UTC Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 May 21 1347:24 UTC MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 May 21, 1549 UTC Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 May 21, 2359 UTC (see CRT page) Some observation sets have MPEC codes in parentheses, such as (*) denoting discovery.

Viewing Opportunities for Small Objects [ news | size order | alpha order | top ]

This compilation shows 16 small objects as being currently in view, including 9 not reported in the last seven days. Viewing by date order - see this list also by designation order Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date) ---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - ----------------------- 2004 RQ252 2006-05-22 0.000443 115 22.34 23 - risk listed - (5 March) 2006 JP 2006-05-25 0.151563 61 23.72 1 - past obs. - (3 May) 2006 CL9 2006-05-26 0.039809 96 22.73 48 - (17 May) 2006 HZ5 2006-05-28 0.010912 41 24.61 30 - (21 May) 2006 HW5 2006-05-31 0.027256 47 24.27 13 - past obs. - (4 May) 2006 CW 2006-06-01 0.153265 109 22.47 74 - past obs. - (19 April) 2006 FH36 2006-06-04 0.015393 87 22.94 31 - past obs. - (4 May) 2006 JT41 2006-06-05 0.054455 37 24.83 14 - (21 May) 2006 KB1 2006-06-09 0.0059 45 24.4 1 - (21 May) 2000 SJ344 2006-06-11 0.046576 104 22.57 3op - "only one night" - past obs. - (2 May) 2006 HW50 2006-06-11 0.020647 46 24.34 28 - (21 May) 2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032234 122 22.21 1 - (21 May) 2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - (18 May) 2005 YM128 2006-06-30 0.029665 55 23.93 125 - past obs. - (7 May) 2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035667 110 22.45 128 - past obs. - (4 May) 1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April) Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date) ---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - ----------------------- 2006 KB1 2006-06-09 0.0059 45 24.4 1 - (21 May) 2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032234 122 22.21 1 - (21 May) 2006 JT41 2006-06-05 0.054455 37 24.83 14 - (21 May) 2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - (18 May) 2006 JP 2006-05-25 0.151563 61 23.72 1 - past obs. - (3 May) 2006 HW50 2006-06-11 0.020647 46 24.34 28 - (21 May) 2006 HZ5 2006-05-28 0.010912 41 24.61 30 - (21 May) 2006 HW5 2006-05-31 0.027256 47 24.27 13 - past obs. - (4 May) 2006 FH36 2006-06-04 0.015393 87 22.94 31 - past obs. - (4 May) 2006 CL9 2006-05-26 0.039809 96 22.73 48 - (17 May) 2006 CW 2006-06-01 0.153265 109 22.47 74 - past obs. - (19 April) 2005 YM128 2006-06-30 0.029665 55 23.93 125 - past obs. - (7 May) 2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035667 110 22.45 128 - past obs. - (4 May) 2004 RQ252 2006-05-22 0.000443 115 22.34 23 - risk listed - (5 March) 2000 SJ344 2006-06-11 0.046576 104 22.57 3op - "only one night" - past obs. - (2 May) 1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April) Out-of-view date based on MPES solar elongation <40° and/or magnitude V>22.0 at 1200 UT geocentric. (Not factored in is any lunar interference with viewing.) Objects are linked in the left-most column only if observed in the last seven days, while objects with earlier small-object reporting are linked under "Notes." Diameter ("Dia") is in meters, a very rough estimate from brightness (H). Observing "Arc" is from MPES in days or number of oppositions. "In view" does not necessarily mean locatable for objects with short arcs in prior years and for which a large search or accidental rediscovery are the best hopes.

Small object observation cross index [ size order | 48 Hours | viewing | top ]

Object

Observed by MPC code

A48

291, 941

291

E12