12-18 June '06 - A/CC Small Object Report

ACC's Small Object Report for 12-18 June 2006

A semi-automated report compiled on 18 June 2006 at 2359 UTC

There are five small asteroids reported in the last 168 hours, during which none 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: 62 meters per JPL H=23.67, MPC H=23.6 JPL classifies 2006 KM89 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.147024 AU (57.21 LD). Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KM89 has an MOID of 0.00347 AU (1.35 LD) with Mars. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-M07: Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291] 2006-06-16 0830-0841, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M07, follow-up (H) See also information from the week ending 4 June 2006. 2006 KC40 (K06K40C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 78 meters per JPL H=23.20, MPC H=23.1 This object was listed from 28 May until 4 June 2006 as an impact risk. JPL classifies 2006 KC40 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.026521 AU (10.32 LD), and reports this object will pass Earth at 19.7 lunar distances (LD) on 22 June 2006. Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KC40 has an MOID of 0.03490 AU (13.58 LD) with Mars. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L61 and 2006-M01: Farpoint Obs. [734] 2006-06-14 0331-0338, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-L61, follow-up Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12] 2006-06-15 1031-1034, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-M01, follow-up See also information from the week ending 11 June 2006. 2006 LC (K06L00C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 80 meters per JPL H=23.14, MPC H=23.1 JPL classifies 2006 LC as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.030695 AU (11.94 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 16.7 LD on 9 June 2006. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-L52, 2006-L61, 2006-L62, and 2006-M01: Schiaparelli Obs. [204] 2006-06-10 2227-2233, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L61, follow-up Linz Obs. [540] 2006-06-12 2110-2138, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-L52, follow-up 2006-06-14 2059-2130, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L62, follow-up Great Shefford Obs. [J95] 2006-06-16 0113-0145, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-M01, follow-up See also information from the week ending 11 June 2006. 2001 UF5 (K01U05F) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]

Size estimate: 108 meters per JPL H=22.48, MPC H=22.7 This object was listed until 10 June 2006 as an impact risk. JPL classifies 2001 UF5 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.005869 AU (2.28 LD). Lowell Observatory reports 2001 UF5 has significant MOIDs with planets Venus (0.00016 AU = 0.06 LD) and Mars (0.00121 AU = 0.47 LD). Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L52: NEAT's Mt. Palomar telescope [644] 2001-10-07 0723-0822, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L52, precovery 2001-10-19 0714-0744, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-L52, archival See also information from the week ending 11 June 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 0.032142 AU (12.51 LD), and reports this object passed Earth at 16.3 LD on 10 May 2006. Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-L61: Faulkes Telescope North [F65{3}] coded to David Bowdley, FT Educ. Dir. 2006-05-31 1042-1050, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-L61, follow-up See also information from the week ending 11 June 2006.

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

Observations of five small objects were reported during the last 168 hours: 2001 UF5, 2006 KC, 2006 KC40, 2006 KM89 & 2006 LC in MPECs: 2006-L52 time-stamped 2006 June 13, 06:15 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-L61 time-stamped 2006 June 14, 06:16 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-L62 time-stamped 2006 June 15, 06:15 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-M01 time-stamped 2006 June 16, 06:14 UT - Daily Orbit Update 2006-M07 time-stamped 2006 June 17, 06:15 UT - Daily Orbit Update Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page: JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 June 18, 1535 UTC JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 June 18, 1539 UTC Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 Jun 17 1902:18 UTC MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 June 18, 1528 UTC Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 June 18, 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 12 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) ---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - ----------------------- 2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032142 122 22.21 12 - (14 June) 2006 LD 2006-06-20 0.094235 68 23.48 1 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 KY67 2006-06-20 0.021065 86 22.97 11 - past obs. - (7 June) 2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - past obs. - (18 May) 2006 KK89 2006-06-24 0.101248 109 22.46 2 - past obs. - (30 May) 2006 LC 2006-06-25 0.030695 80 23.14 14 - (16 June) 2006 KC40 2006-06-27 0.026521 78 23.20 20 - was risk listed - (16 June) 1997 YM9 2006-06-28 0.029668 45 24.36 2op - aka 2005 YM128 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 LB 2006-07-02 0.122414 60 23.77 1 - past obs. - (2 June) 2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May) 2006 KL103 2006-07-14 0.025073 27 25.50 3 - past obs. - (3 June) 2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - faint recov. poss. - (30 April) 2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.147024 62 23.67 18 - (18 June) 2006 KJ89 2006-08-04 0.092149 59 23.79 7 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 KK103 2006-08-28 0.146319 107 22.51 9 - past obs. - (4 June) 1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076170 139 21.94 2op - (30 April) Coming into view soon: 1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.028403 128 22.11 14 - >25 June, faint recov. poss. - (30 April) Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date) ---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - ----------------------- 2006 LD 2006-06-20 0.094235 68 23.48 1 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 LC 2006-06-25 0.030695 80 23.14 14 - (16 June) 2006 LB 2006-07-02 0.122414 60 23.77 1 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 KL103 2006-07-14 0.025073 27 25.50 3 - past obs. - (3 June) 2006 KK103 2006-08-28 0.146319 107 22.51 9 - past obs. - (4 June) 2006 KM89 2006-08-01 0.147024 62 23.67 18 - (18 June) 2006 KK89 2006-06-24 0.101248 109 22.46 2 - past obs. - (30 May) 2006 KJ89 2006-08-04 0.092149 59 23.79 7 - past obs. - (2 June) 2006 KY67 2006-06-20 0.021065 86 22.97 11 - past obs. - (7 June) 2006 KC40 2006-06-27 0.026521 78 23.20 20 - was risk listed - (16 June) 2006 KC 2006-06-19 0.032142 122 22.21 12 - (14 June) 2006 JM6 2006-06-22 0.031910 62 23.67 11 - past obs. - (18 May) 1997 YM9 2006-06-28 0.029668 45 24.36 2op - aka 2005 YM128 - past obs. - (2 June) 2005 YA37 2006-07-09 0.035665 112 22.40 128 - past obs. - (25 May) 2000 HB24 2006-07-15 0.016250 73 23.34 10 - faint recov. poss. - (30 April) 1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.028403 128 22.11 14 - >25 June, faint recov. poss. - (30 April) 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

644

F65

734, E12

291