A two-moon sky imaged from a truly distant robotic observatory -- the Mars rover Spirit, which shot this stack with its Panoramic Camera at 150-sec. intervals. Deimos is seen in seven positions at right while closer and larger Phobos speeds through the frame. Phobos was discovered 130 years ago today by Asaph Hall, six days after Deimos. Both are believed to be captured asteroids. Credit: NASA/ JPL/ Cornell/ Texas A&M. See more Phobos images at JPL.
Contents on 17 August '07
- Minor-Object News -- six items
- Minor-Object Science -- one paper
- IAU Minor Planet Center
- NEOCP Activity -- one listing: 1 new
- New MPECs -- one MPEC
- Observers -- fourteen observing facilities
- Impact Risk Monitoring -- two objects reported
- Chronology
Resources:
- Consolidated Risk Tables - CRT page
- Ephemerides for risk-rated objects
- Ephemerides for small asteroids
The latest news: framed access (best), RSS news feed (flags updates), or redirection - Note: A/CC has a main Web site and a backup site.
Navigation tips: Use the << and >> arrows on the menus for each regular section (Observers, Risks, etc.) to move to the previous and next day's news for that section. Use the Index menu item to access specific days this year through a calendar interface. And use the all-up news archive to access news from any time since A/CC began in early 2002. To keep track of what's new each day, watch the Chronology section.
Minor-Object News on 17 August '07
- "Aurigid Meteor Shower Peaks September 1," Space.com 17 Aug. - Quote: "[The] upcoming display is expected to be short-lived: probably lasting no more than an hour or so at most [and] a bright gibbous moon will be lighting up the sky... But because the Aurigids ram through our atmosphere at exceptionally high speeds ... and since these particles are predicted to be rather large, the display is expected to be rich in bright meteors." {permalink}
- "Scientist: Calculations Prove Life Began in Comet," Space.com 16 Aug. - Quote: "Life almost undoubtedly began in space, and specifically in the hearts of comets, rather than on Earth, a new study claims... 'It looks to me as if their conclusions are constructed from a series of speculations, none of which is based on much evidence...' said David Morrison, a senior scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center." - Note: See related news links. {permalink}
- "Sedona Citizens Fight to Save Starry Skies," Native Voices Foundation at Send2Press 17 Aug. - Quote: "Sedona residents enlightened their leaders 'on alternatives to putting up 76 sodium light poles that would add to global warming and cancer, while turning this magnificent town into a Las Vegas strip'... Even dark sky cities like [nearby] Flagstaff need to work hard to reduce light pollution." {permalink}
- "Polluted Dead Star Indicates Planets Like Earth May Have Formed Around Other Stars," UCLA 16 Aug. - Quote: "Astronomers from UCLA report that a white dwarf star known as GD 362, which is surrounded by dusty rings similar to those of Saturn, has been contaminated by a large asteroid that left more than a dozen observable chemical elements in the white dwarf's atmosphere... 'The relative abundance of the elements in the white dwarf's atmosphere, polluted by the asteroid, appears similar to those in our Earth-Moon system,' [Benjamin] Zuckerman said." {permalink}
- "Old star shows signs of Earthlike planets," Reuters at MSNBC 16 Aug. - Quote: "Astronomers at the University of California at Los Angeles and University of Kiel in Germany studied a white dwarf called GD 362, located 150 light-years away... They figured out the chemical composition of a large asteroid that ... was rich in iron and calcium and low in carbon, much like a strong rock, they said." {permalink}
- "Killer Space Rocks," Popular Science 16 Aug. - Quote: "A handful of scientists, both at NASA and the privately funded B612 Foundation, have proposed various protocols for diverting or destroying a collision-course NEO. None currently have funding." {permalink}
Minor-Object Science on 17 August '07
- "The largest Kuiper belt objects" by Brown, M.E., PDF from Michael E. Brown 15 Aug. - Quote: "While for the first decade of the study of the Kuiper belt, a gap existed between the sizes of the relatively small and faint Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) that were being studied and the largest known KBO, Pluto, recent years have seen that gap filled and the maximum size even expanded. These large KBOs occupy all dynamical classes of the Kuiper belt with the exception of the cold classical population, and one large object, Sedna, is the first member of a new more distant population beyond the Kuiper belt... Based on the completeness of the current surveys, it appears that ~3 more KBOs of the same size range likely still await discovery, but that tens to hundreds more exist in the more distant region where Sedna currently resides." - Note: Figure 1 shows "Coverage of the Palomar survey for large Kuiper belt objects." {permalink}
NEOCP Activity on 17 August '07
The MPC's NEO Confirmation Page has 1 listing: 1 new
When last checked at 2354 UTC today, the Minor Planet Center's NEO discovery Confirmation Page (NEOCP) had one new listing. This was a "one nighter."
To learn how observers use the NEOCP, see the Practical guide on how to observe NEOCP object by Birtwhistle et al. at Suno Observatory.
New MPECs on 17 August '07
Minor Planet Electronic Circulars
As of last check at 2354 UTC, there has been one MPEC issued today from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
<< DOU on 17 Aug. '07 >> MPEC 2007-Q02 - "06:08 UT" - Daily Orbit Update
- Observations of risk-listed objects
- K07P28F 2007 PF28 (arc=2 days, H=19.0 ~537m) from LINEAR (Aug. 16.26-31p5), Robert Hutsebaut via RAS Obs. Mayhill (Aug. 16.39-40p3), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.62-67p11), Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.71p3), Balzaretto Obs. (Aug. 16.85-89p5), Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 16.88p3), and Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 17.10-11p7 & 17.16-17p9)
- K07P25R 2007 PR25 (almost small, q=0.303 AU, arc=4 days, H=21.9 ~141m) from Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.56p3) and Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 16.91p3)
- Observations of small asteroids (H>22.0)
- K07P25S 2007 PS25 (arc=4 days, H=25.6 ~26m) from Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.69p3) and Great Shefford Obs. (Aug. 16.92p2)
- K00P08N 2000 PN8 (arc=2 opp, H=22.2 ~123m) from Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. (PJMSO) (Aug. 16.35-36p8) and Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.74-75p3)
- Observations of other objects
- K07P11U 2007 PU11 (Q=4.404 AU, arc=51 days, H=16.4 ~1.78 km) from Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 16.33-34p5) and Capannoli Obs. (Aug. 16.88-89p2)
- K07P09P 2007 PP9 (arc=6 days, H=21.3 ~186m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.01-02p4), PJMSO (Aug. 16.38-40p7), and Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 17.20-21p6)
- K07P08E 2007 PE8 (arc=6 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from PJMSO (Aug. 16.29-30p8), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.59-64p8), Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.65p3), and Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 17.08-09p8 & 17.14-15p9)
- K07P06P 2007 PP6 (q=0.364 AU, arc=7 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from Shenton Park Obs. (Aug. 16.66p1)
- K07O00V 2007 OV (arc=31 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from Hibiscus Obs. (Aug. 16.54p1 & 16.62p1)
- K07N05C 2007 NC5 (q=0.277 AU, Q=4.618 AU, arc=43 days, H=18.0 ~851m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.04p4), PJMSO (Aug. 16.33-34p6), and Wildberg Obs. (Aug. 16.86-87p5)
- K07L32R 2007 LR32 (arc=84 days, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from PJMSO (Aug. 16.31-33p6), Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.65-68p10), and Capannoli Obs. (Aug. 16.95p3)
- K07L15A 2007 LA15 (arc=64 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from PJMSO (Aug. 16.20-22p7)
- K07H15E 2007 HE15 (arc=115 days, H=19.5 ~426m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.06-07p4)
- K07DA3T 2007 DT103 (arc=171 days, H=19.1 ~513m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.07-08p4), PJMSO (Aug. 16.37-38p6), and Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.69-71p9)
- K07D08K 2007 DK8 (arc=180 days, H=19.0 ~537m) from LINEAR (Aug. 16.32-37p5) and Greiner Research Obs. (Aug. 16.32-33p3)
- K07C26K 2007 CK26 (arc=2 opp, H=19.0 ~537m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 14.96-97p4) and PJMSO (Aug. 16.26-27p7)
- K04S09T 2004 ST9 (arc=2 opp, H=18.0 ~851m) from Capannoli Obs. (Aug. 16.93-94p2)
- K03SM2W 2003 SW222 (arc=3 opp, H=17.2 ~1.23 km) from PJMSO (Aug. 16.36-37p5)
- K03O14R 2003 OR14 (arc=4 opp, H=16.4 ~1.78 km) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 14.98-99p4)
- K02N04N 2002 NN4 (arc=4 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 14.99-00p4)
- K00Q07T 2000 QT7 (arc=2 opp, H=20.0 ~339m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.08-09p4)
- J99V06O 1999 VO6 from PJMSO (Aug. 16.23-24p5)
- J99J03U 1999 JU3 (arc=4 opp, H=19.2 ~490m) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.05-06p4)
- J97P00N 1997 PN (arc=2 opp, H=19.7 ~389m) from Wildberg Obs. (Aug. 16.88-90p6)
- E5656 145656 4788 P-L from PJMSO (Aug. 16.26p5)
- A5140 105140 2000 NL10 from North Obs. (Aug. 16.97-98p3)
- 87309 87309 2000 QP from PJMSO (Aug. 16.24p3)
- 86324 86324 1999 WA2 from PJMSO (Aug. 16.25p5) and Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.49p7)
- 85275 85275 1994 LY from Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. (Aug. 16.45-46p3)
- 16636 16636 1993 QP from Moriyama Obs. (Aug. 15.62-63p2)
- 07350 7350 1993 VA from LINEAR (Aug. 16.20-22p3)
- 05143 5143 Heracles (1991 VL) from LINEAR (Aug. 16.26-31p10)
- 04183 4183 Cuno (1959 LM) from Lumezzane Obs. (Aug. 15.03p4) and LINEAR (Aug. 16.27-31p5)
Observers on 17 August '07
Fourteen observing facilities appear in today's MPECs.
| A81 | Balzaretto Obs. in Italy, 1 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28 |
| B09 | Capannoli Obs. in Italy, 3 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PU11, 2007 LR32, 2004 ST9 |
| J95 | Great Shefford Obs. in England, 3 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28, 2007 PR25, 2007 PS25 |
| H51 | Greiner Research Obs. in Wisconsin, 5 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28, 2007 PU11, 2007 PP9, 2007 PE8, 2007 DK8 |
| 379 | Hamamatsu-Yuto Obs. in Japan, 6 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28, 2007 PE8, 2007 LR32, 2007 DT103, 86324, 85275 |
| F84 | Hibiscus Obs. in Tahiti, 1 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 OV |
| 704 | LINEAR in New Mexico, 5 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28, 2007 DK8, 7350, 5143, 4183 |
| 130 | Lumezzane Obs. in Italy, 10 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PP9, 2007 NC5, 2007 HE15, 2007 DT103, 2007 CK26, 2003 OR14, 2002 NN4, 2000 QT7, 1999 JU3, 4183 |
| 900 | Moriyama Obs., 1 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 16636 |
| J69 | North Obs. in England, 1 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 105140 |
| H45 | Petit Jean Mtn. South Obs. in Arkansas, 13 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2000 PN8, 2007 PP9, 2007 PE8, 2007 NC5, 2007 LR32, 2007 LA15, 2007 DT103, 2007 CK26, 2003 SW222, 1999 VO6, 145656, 87309, 86324 |
| H062 | Robert Hutsebaut in Belgium via RAS Obs. Mayhill in New Mexico, 1 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28 |
| D21 | Shenton Park Obs., 6 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 PF28, 2007 PR25, 2007 PS25, 2000 PN8, 2007 PE8, 2007 PP6 |
| 198 | Wildberg Obs. in Germany, 2 in MPEC 2007-Q02 -- 2007 NC5, 1997 PN |
Impact Risk Monitoring on 17 August '07
| 0000NNN000 Object | Risk Monitor | When Noted UTC | 0000T0000 Year Range | VI # | 000NN00 Prob Cum | T0000 PS Cum | T0000 PS Max | T S | Notes for Today's Latest Risk Assessments |
| 2007 PR25 | JPL | 1355 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 0957 UTC. | |||||
| NEODyS | 1355 | R E M O V E D | |||||||
| 2007 PF28 | JPL | 1355 | R E M O V E D | JPL: Risk listing removed at 0959 UTC. | |||||
| NEODyS | 1355 | R E M O V E D | |||||||
Legend: VI# = VI count, Prob Cum = cumulative probability, PS Cum/Max = cumulative/maximum Palermo Scale, TS = Torino Scale
An impact solution, also known as a "virtual impactor" (VI), is not a prediction but rather a possibility derived from an orbit calculation that cannot be eliminated yet based on the existing data. Elimination can come quickly with just a little further observation or may take weeks or months, sometimes years. Once superceded or eliminated, a former impact solution has zero relevance to an object's risk. See Jon Giorgini's "Understanding Risk Pages" for more about this.
Chronology on 17 August '07
Times are UTC for when the items were noted or added by Major News.
| 1912 | Added link to news story, "Sedona Citizens Fight to Save Starry Skies" Added link to news story, "Scientist: Calculations Prove Life Began in Comet" Added link to news story, "Aurigid Meteor Shower Peaks September 1" |
| 1406 | Added MOS paper, "The largest Kuiper belt objects" - see above Added link to news story, "Old star shows signs of Earthlike planets" Added link to news story, "Polluted Dead Star Indicates Planets Like Earth May Have Formed Around Other Stars" Added link to news story, "Killer Space Rocks" |
| 1355 | Noted that JPL has removed 2007 PF28 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2007 PF28 as an impact risk - see above Noted that JPL has removed 2007 PR25 as an impact risk - see above Noted that NEODyS has removed 2007 PR25 as an impact risk - see above Grabbed MPEC 2007-Q02 - Daily Orbit Update - see above |
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