Earth's Busy Neighborhood
ACC's Small Object Report for 21-27 August 2006
A semi-automated report compiled on 27 August 2006 at 2359 UTC
Nine small asteroids were reported in the last 168 hours, during which four were newly discovered.
Currently 1,082 NEAs are listed with H>22.0 by JPL and/or the MPC (902 are listed as such by both).
[ news | objects by size | object index alpha/cross-ref | 48 Hours | viewing | weekly ]
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.
Small Object News (newest items first) [ object listings |
index |
48 Hours |
viewing |
weekly |
top ]
- Week in Review: This past week was the best for discovering and following small asteroids since early June -- four discovered, four tracked recently, and one reported from July and earlier in August. LINEAR had two discoveries from New Mexico, the Spacewatch 0.9-meter telescope in Arizona and Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales each had one, and fifteen other observatories participated in the observing published this week. Siding Spring led in the number of objects reported, five including a discovery.
- Aug. 27: Sunday Daily Orbit Update (DOU) Minor Planet Electronic Circular (MPEC) 2006-Q37 reports observations of three small asteroids: The Siding Spring Survey in Australia added about four days to what had been a six-day observing arc for 2006 QA and provided the first follow-up for 2006 QK40, while Les Engarouines, Great Shefford, and Cordell-Lorenz observatories did the same for 2006 QQ56 from France, England, and Tennessee.
- Aug. 26 #2: Another small-asteroid discovery has been announced today. 2006 QQ56 was discovered yesterday by LINEAR in Massachusetts with its New Mexico observing facility and has been confirmed today by the Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales and tonight by Modra Observatory in Slovakia. JPL has an initial prediction that it will pass by Earth at 7.9 lunar distances on September 2nd.
- Aug. 26 #1: Saturday's DOU MPEC reports no observations of small asteroids, but today discovery of 2006 QK40 has been announced. It was found yesterday by the Siding Spring Survey, which confirmed it again yesterday and today, and CEAMIG-REA in Brazil also confirmed it this morning.
- Aug. 25: The discovery of small asteroid 2006 QK33 has been announced on Friday. It was found by LINEAR early on August 23rd and was confirmed this morning by Great Shefford, Cordell-Lorenz, and Table Mountain observatories in England, Tennessee, and southern California. Update: 2006 QK33 has been posted as an impact risk.
DOU MPEC 2006-Q25 reports observation of one small asteroid. Schiaparelli Observatory in Italy tracked 2006 OE10.
- Aug. 24: Thursday's DOU MPEC 2006-Q25 reports observations of two small asteroids. Linz Observatory in Austria tacked 7.950 days onto what had been a 22.665-day observing arc for 2006 OC7, and Farpoint Observatory in Kansas added 2.964 days to 2006 QX5's 1.962-day arc.
- Aug. 23: Wednesday DOU MPEC 2006-Q20 reports observation of two small asteroids. The Siding Spring Survey in Australia caught 2006 OY4 on August 14th and 21st, adding 17.978 days to this object's 14.134-day observing arc, and also tracked 2006 QA on the 22nd.
- Aug. 22: DOU MPEC 2006-Q19 on Tuesday reports observations of three small asteroids. David Tholen's team on Mauna Kea in Hawaii picked up 2006 KY67 on July 27th and August 11th, adding 66.514 days to the 10.716-day observing arc for this formerly risk-listed object. The Spacewatch 1.8m telescope in Arizona tracked 2006 OE10 and Kanab Observatory in Arizona reported 2006 QX5 from within its discovery arc.
- Aug. 21 #2: The discovery of 2006 QX5 has been announced today. It was found with the Spacewatch 0.9m telescope in Arizona and soon confirmed with the Spacewatch 1.8m telescope, which also caught it yesterday and this morning. Joining in the confirmation this morning were Altschwendt and Farpoint observatories in Austria and Kansas. This appears to be a distant object as small asteroids go, with the MPC's preliminary calculation that it comes no closer to Earth's orbit than 58.2 lunar distances (0.1495 AU).
- Aug. 21 #1: Monday's DOU MPEC 2006-Q12 reports observations of two small asteroids. CEAMIG-REA in Brazil and the Siding Spring Survey in New South Wales have provided the first follow-up for 2006 QA, and Wildberg Observatory in Germany has added 17.236 days to 2006 OE10's 8.211-day observing arc.
- See news from the week of 14-20 August and from previous weeks, and you also can look up individual small asteroids.
Object Listings -- smallest objects first [ Alpha Index | 48 Hours | top ]
2006 QQ56 (K06Q56Q) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 27 meters per JPL H=25.53, MPC H=25.7
JPL classifies 2006 QQ56 as an Aten and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.018771 AU (7.30 LD),
and reports this object will pass Earth at 7.9 lunar distances (LD) on 2 Sept. 2006 at about 0429 UT.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-Q36 and 2006-Q37:
LINEAR [704]
2006-08-25 0625-0721, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q36, discovery (*)
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-08-26 1435-1436, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q36, confirmation
Modra Obs. [118]
2006-08-26 1904-1928, 6 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q36, confirmation
Les Engarouines Obs. [A14]
2006-08-26 1937-2004, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q37, follow-up
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-08-27 0128-0131, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q37, follow-up
Cordell-Lorenz Obs. [850]
2006-08-27 0400-0453, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q37, follow-up
2006 OE10 (K06O10E) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 36 meters per JPL H=24.89, MPC H=24.9
JPL classifies 2006 OE10 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.047649 AU (18.54 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 18.7 LD on 23 July 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-Q12, 2006-Q19,
and 2006-Q31:
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-08-14 1535-1544, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q19, follow-up
Wildberg Obs. [198]
2006-08-20 2252-2313, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q12, follow-up
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-08-21 0801-0812, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q19, follow-up
Schiaparelli Obs. [204]
2006-08-22 0118-0118, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q31, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 6 Aug. 2006.
2006 QX5 (K06Q05X) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 55 meters per JPL H=23.93, MPC H=23.9
JPL classifies 2006 QX5 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.148401 AU (57.74 LD).
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-Q14, 2006-Q19,
and 2006-Q25:
Spacewatch 0.9m telescope [691]
2006-08-19 0635-0729, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, discovery (*)
Spacewatch 1.8m telescope [291]
2006-08-19 0901-0912, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, confirmation (H)
2006-08-20 0647-0703, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, confirmation
2006-08-21 0528-0539, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, confirmation
Kanab Obs. [682]
2006-08-20 0603-0706, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q19, follow-up
Altschwendt Obs. [A44]
2006-08-21 0134-0159, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, confirmation
Farpoint Obs. [734]
2006-08-21 0444-0513, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q14, confirmation
2006-08-24 0431-0448, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q25, follow-up
2006 QK40 (K06Q40K) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 56 meters per JPL H=23.91, MPC H=23.9
JPL classifies 2006 QK40 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.006293 AU (2.45 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 13.2 LD on 18 Aug. 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-Q35 and 2006-Q37:
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-08-25 1416-1450, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q35, discovery (*)
2006-08-25 1620-1736, 8 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q35, confirmation
2006-08-26 0951-0951, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q35, confirmation
2006-08-26 1350-1426, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q37, follow-up
CEAMIG-REA [I77]
2006-08-26 0203-0213, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q35, confirmation
2006 OY4 (K06O04Y) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 65 meters per JPL H=23.57, MPC H=23.6
JPL classifies 2006 OY4 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.086163 AU (33.53 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 34.8 LD on 30 July 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 OY4 has an MOID of 0.04324 AU (16.82 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-Q20:
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-08-14 1754-1754, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q20, follow-up
2006-08-21 1653-1709, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q20, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 6 Aug. 2006.
2006 QK33 (K06Q33K) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 68 meters per JPL H=23.48, MPC H=23.6
This object has been listed as an impact risk since 25 Aug. 2006.
JPL classifies 2006 QK33 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.049865 AU (19.40 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 21.9 LD on 23 Aug. 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-Q32:
LINEAR [704]
2006-08-23 0600-0702, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q32, discovery (*)
Great Shefford Obs. [J95]
2006-08-25 0047-0050, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q32, confirmation
Cordell-Lorenz Obs. [850]
2006-08-25 0639-0709, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q32, confirmation
Table Mountain Obs. [673{5}] coded to Jim Young
2006-08-25 0927-0927, 1 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q32, confirmation
2006 QA (K06Q00A) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 78 meters per JPL H=23.18, MPC H=23.2
JPL classifies 2006 QA as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.058195 AU (22.64 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 25.0 LD on 24 Aug. 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 QA has an MOID of 0.8447 AU (328.7 LD) with Jupiter.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPECs 2006-Q12, 2006-Q20,
and 2006-Q37:
CEAMIG-REA [I77]
2006-08-20 0512-0515, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q12, follow-up
Siding Spring Survey (SSS) [E12]
2006-08-20 1519-1528, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q12, follow-up
2006-08-22 1544-1546, 5 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q20, follow-up
2006-08-26 1526-1616, 4 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q37, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 20 Aug. 2006.
2006 KY67 (K06K67Y) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 85 meters per JPL H=23.00, MPC H=23.2
This object was listed from 28 until 30 May 2006 as an impact risk.
JPL classifies 2006 KY67 as an Apollo and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.021251 AU (8.27 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 17.5 LD on 6 June 2006.
Lowell Observatory reports 2006 KY67 has an MOID of 0.04715 AU (18.35 LD) with Mars.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-Q19:
Mauna Kea [568{2}] coded to David Tholen et al.
2006-07-27 1234-1242, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q19, follow-up
2006-08-11 1149-1210, 2 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q19, follow-up
See also information from the week ending 11 June 2006.
2006 OC7 (K06O07C) [ JPL Orbit Viewer | NEODyS object home | news | viewing | index | top ]
Size estimate: 97 meters per JPL H=22.72, MPC H=22.8
JPL classifies 2006 OC7 as an Amor and calculates an Earth MOID of 0.040428 AU (15.73 LD),
and reports this object passed Earth at 18.3 LD on 19 July 2006.
Observations are reported from the following observatories in MPEC 2006-Q25:
Linz Obs. [540]
2006-08-23 1954-2011, 3 pos. in MPEC 2006-Q25, follow-up (I)
See also information from the week ending 20 Aug. 2006.
48+120 Hours [ Objects Listings (size order) | Object Index (alpha/xref) | top ]
Observations of nine small objects were reported during the last 168 hours:
2006 KY67, 2006 OC7, 2006 OE10, 2006 OY4, 2006 QA, 2006 QK33, 2006 QK40, 2006 QQ56
& 2006 QX5
in MPECs:
2006-Q12 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 21, 06:11 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-Q14 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 21, 15:34 UT - 2006 QX5
2006-Q19 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 22, 06:10 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-Q20 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 23, 06:12 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-Q25 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 24, 06:10 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-Q31 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 25, 06:10 UT - Daily Orbit Update
2006-Q32 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 25, 12:14 UT - 2006 QK33
2006-Q35 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 26, 14:37 UT - 2006 QK40
2006-Q36 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 26, 19:58 UT - 2006 QQ56
2006-Q37 time-stamped 2006 Aug. 27, 06:10 UT - Daily Orbit Update
Date & times for other sources that were parsed to compile this page:
JPL Close Approaches, downloaded at 2006 Aug. 27, 1525 UTC
JPL NEO Orbital Elements, downloaded at 2006 Aug. 27, 1538 UTC
Lowell Observatory Orbit intersections, time-stamped 2006 Aug 26 1116:27 UTC
MPC NEA.DAT from MPC mirror, downloaded at 2006 Aug. 27, 1521 UTC
Risk monitoring sites, as of A/CC's check at 2006 Aug. 27, 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 17 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)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 MH10 2006-09-01 0.124765 122 22.22 23 - past obs. - (16 July)
2006 KK103 2006-09-01 0.139955 110 22.44 50 - past obs. - (16 July)
2006 OC7 2006-09-07 0.040428 97 22.72 31 - (24 Aug.)
1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.027513 129 22.09 2op - past obs. - (3 Aug.)
2006 OE10 2006-09-13 0.047649 36 24.89 27 - (25 Aug.)
54509 2006-09-15 0.000154 104 22.56 4op - aka 2000 PH5 - past obs. - (26 July)
2006 QK33 2006-09-16 0.049865 68 23.48 2 - risk listed - (25 Aug.)
2006 QK40 2006-09-17 0.006293 56 23.91 1 - (27 Aug.)
2005 QQ87 2006-09-18 0.079408 95 22.76 10 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2006 QX5 2006-09-29 0.148401 55 23.93 5 - (24 Aug.)
2006 OY4 2006-09-30 0.086163 65 23.57 32 - (23 Aug.)
2006 QA 2006-10-07 0.058195 78 23.18 10 - (27 Aug.)
1999 RJ33 2006-10-10 0.026859 108 22.49 16 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2004 SC56 2006-10-19 0.011296 92 22.84 13 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2006 QQ56 2006-10-23 0.018771 27 25.53 2 - (27 Aug.)
2002 FD6 2006-11-06 0.003677 121 22.23 15 - (16 July)
1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076404 141 21.91 3op - "only 1 night" - past obs. - (16 July)
Coming into view soon:
2002 TD58 2006-10-03 0.101541 84 23.02 25 - >5 Sept., faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
1998 VD32 2006-10-06 0.029901 124 22.19 12 - >1 Sept., faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
Viewing by designation order - see also Viewing by date order
Object View until MOID AU Dia H Arc Notes (calc date)
---------- ---------- -------- --- ----- --- - -----------------------
2006 QQ56 2006-10-23 0.018771 27 25.53 2 - (27 Aug.)
2006 QK40 2006-09-17 0.006293 56 23.91 1 - (27 Aug.)
2006 QK33 2006-09-16 0.049865 68 23.48 2 - risk listed - (25 Aug.)
2006 QX5 2006-09-29 0.148401 55 23.93 5 - (24 Aug.)
2006 QA 2006-10-07 0.058195 78 23.18 10 - (27 Aug.)
2006 OE10 2006-09-13 0.047649 36 24.89 27 - (25 Aug.)
2006 OC7 2006-09-07 0.040428 97 22.72 31 - (24 Aug.)
2006 OY4 2006-09-30 0.086163 65 23.57 32 - (23 Aug.)
2006 MH10 2006-09-01 0.124765 122 22.22 23 - past obs. - (16 July)
2006 KK103 2006-09-01 0.139955 110 22.44 50 - past obs. - (16 July)
2005 QQ87 2006-09-18 0.079408 95 22.76 10 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2004 SC56 2006-10-19 0.011296 92 22.84 13 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2002 TD58 2006-10-03 0.101541 84 23.02 25 - >5 Sept., faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
2002 FD6 2006-11-06 0.003677 121 22.23 15 - (16 July)
1999 RJ33 2006-10-10 0.026859 108 22.49 16 - faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
1999 LK1 2006-09-11 0.027513 129 22.09 2op - past obs. - (3 Aug.)
1998 VD32 2006-10-06 0.029901 124 22.19 12 - >1 Sept., faint recov. poss. - (16 July)
1998 HG49 2006-12-21 0.076404 141 21.91 3op - "only 1 night" - past obs. - (16 July)
54509 2006-09-15 0.000154 104 22.56 4op - aka 2000 PH5 - past obs. - (26 July)
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 |
|---|
| 2006 KY67 | 568 |
| 2006 OC7 | 540 |
| 2006 OE10 | 198, 204, 291, E12 |
| 2006 OY4 | E12 |
| 2006 QA | E12, I77 |
| 2006 QK33 | 673, 704, 850, J95 |
| 2006 QK40 | E12, I77 |
| 2006 QQ56 | 118, 704, 850, A14, E12, J95 |
| 2006 QX5 | 291, 682, 691, 734, A44 |
|
|
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