MAP ALERTS 2008
****************************************************
MAP Alert #291, September 4, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
Reports from Gerard Faure and Andrew Salthouse follow up, highlight this September MAP alert.
While I usually leave my comments till last, I wish to comment on the new header line above right away. You will notice
our attachment page URL following the MAP alert line. Attachments are becoming more common these days, and a webpage for these
is now at that URL.
This is so readers coming to the site will be able to know attachments were issued with an alert, and those seeing the
attachment page will be able to locate and read the alert. And we can get to them as well.
Gerard writes September 2:
Hi to all,
Despite sparse thin clouds or waves of clouds, I reached to observe during two second parts of nights
of the last week-end :
1) On Saturday morning August 30,2008
-------------------------------------
5985
1942 RJ v14.4-14.4 F/0.1-F/0.1 MAP Object
1930
Lucifer v14.6-14.5
3928 Randa v14.6-14.6
7043 Godart v14.7-UMv 14.9 F/0.3-F/0.5 NEW MAP object
439
Ohio v14.9-14.8 B/0.0-B/0.1 MAP Object
2116 Mtskheta v15.2-15.1
1) On Sunday morning August 31,2008
-----------------------------------
1645 Waterfield v14.2
2527 Gregory v14.8
7043 Godart
v14.8-UMv 15.0 F/0.6-F/0.4 MAP Object
164400 2005 GN59 v15.5 to >16.0 variable
Apollo
1868 Thersites v16.1
Jupiter-trojan East
I join the updated file.htm of the MAP measures made since the last update of the MAP Database
for its inclusion in the next MAP Alert.
(7043)Godart is a NEW MAP object observed two times fainter than predicted.
I also put UMv measures because in its
area, the catalogs USNO, GSC and Tycho often give the same V magnitudes for the stars.
(5985)1942 RJ is an old MAP
object already seen in 1998; During my 2008 observations, I saw 5985 just a few fainter than predicted
(439)Ohio also
is an old MAP object seen this time about the predicted
magnitude. The revision of the data saw that the B/0.9 measure
and perhaps the B/0.5 measure certainly were too high. With the removed B/0.9 measure, the averaged difference of magnitude
passes under the half-amplitude of the known light curve; Then, Ohio may be put out of the MAP objects.
Apparently,
the weather will be bad here up to the nearly the full moon. Then, perhaps I shall not observe before the next lunation ?
Good
week !
Gerard> End report
I wanted to do a quick follow-up to Gerard’s message, which I received yesterday.
Last night I had the opportunity to observe several asteroids, including 7043 Godart. I observed it twice in order to
confirm the motion. The predicted mag was 14.2, but it seemed to be about 14 ¾ or about 0.5 to 0.6 fainter than predicted.
Thus I confirm Gerard’s finding that this is a new MAP object about ½ mag fainter than prediction. I will try
again tonight. I have also observed 3928 and 1645 recently and found no discrepancies.
Andrew> end report
Both Gerard and Andrew have done well with 7043 Godart and many other objects this month.
More observations
needed on the reported MAP objects.
My vacation hopes
of many asteroid has ended with just 5 spotted, and another object,"glad I did not retire from MAP" :-) you have not see that one? Unexpected
heat has ruined faint asteroid observing but not satellite viewing. Not much to to report, but I did watch a rocket stage tumbling wildly in my 20x80mms.This 8th to 10th magnitude object is listed
as debris, but should be under not a bad show. This started quite faint and variable, become bright and constant, and then vairable once again. Not a bad 2.5 minute show at all.
Back up observing keeps
me in the game.
Clear
Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet Section Assistant Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com
MAP Alert Homepage
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze105aij/map/
AUDE Web Pages
Gerard Faure (8297 gerardfaure)
http://www.astrosurf.com/map
****************************************************
MAP Alert #290, August 28, 2008
ALSO SEE ATTACHMENTS PAGE FOR THIS ALERT
Greetings MAP Observers!
I'm minutes from clear skies, so pass along Gerard's message of today, current MAP objects
now visible, call for observations for these asteroids!
<The brightest actual targets among the MAP objects, classified by date of
opposition are :
6670 Wallach
1549
Mikko
6422 Akagi
5917 1991 NG
1368 Numidia
5985 1942 RJ
1122 Neith< End Gerards message
I have also attached a file for MAP objects visible to the end of 2008!
I will close with words passed along by another MAP reader with an asteroid named for him
this year. John Fletcher with 6137 Johnfletcher named in June, congratulations John!
****************************************************
MAP Alert #289, August 24, 2008
ALSO SEE ATTACHMENTS PAGE FOR THIS ALERT
Greetings MAP Observers!
The return of a past member to the ranks of MAP, news of a list member having an asteroid named for him, also observation
details highlight this late August edition of the MAP alerts.
Tom Writes:
I'm now at 1417 asteroids observed visually; my last observation made on June 3, 2008 from the Texas Star Party of 1679
Nevanlinna.
Great to see Richard Bookamer becoming the newest member of the Millennium Club! Congratulations to him!>
One
of the world highest visual totals Tom is hardly a newbie, his sharp eyes once again have MAP in focus. Glad I
read my junk mail Tom!
Second, asteroid 183294 Langbroek now orbits the Sun. This was named in honor of my friend
and SpaceWatch asteroid discover Dr. Marco Langbroek of the the Netherlands. Strangely the citation did not mention the discovery!?
Boooo, what an error to leave this out.
His citation follows:
183294) Langbroek = 2002 TB382
Discovered 2002 Oct. 9 by NEAT at Palomar.
Marco Langbroek (b. 1970) is a Dutch
archaeologist and amateur astronomer whose main interests lie in meteor astronomy. He is an avid meteor observer, active within
the Dutch Meteor Society. The name was suggested by S. Kürti.
Andrew Salthouse relays his late July and early August observations, listed now with skies getting dark and moonless
again.
6670
July 19-20 F/0.7
July 21-22 F/0.7
July 24-25 F/0.6
July 24-25 F/0.6
5917
Aug 7-8 F/0.5
Aug 7-8 F/0.5
Aug 8-9 F/0.6
Aug 8-9 F/0.6
Aug 9-10 F/0.5
Gerard Faure writes of his own success yesterday
Hi to all,
Despite the short time between dusk and the moonrise (1 hour) on late Saturday evening, I planned to observe some asteroids.
I reached to observe four of the seven planned targets :
5917 1991 NG v14.9-14.9 F/0.7-F/0.7 +/-0.1
6403 Steverin v15.6-15.7 F/0.2-F/0.3
4937
Lintott v15.8-15.9 F/0.6-F/0.7 +/-0.1 (4 measures)
7175 1988 TN v16.0-15.9
Then my measures confirm the observations from Andrew for 5917 and from John for 4937 ! 6403 and 7175 were used to compare
the MAP objects.
I put the new data in the MAP Database and made a small file HTML with the data for the 4 asteroids observed
since the last update of the MAP Database; This file is joined to this file. I have attached a file from Gerard as well
Good week> End report
For a change I have an asteroid to report myself. I also fought
the early moonrise in hopes of spotting 5917 1991 NG, but did
add a new asteroid on my total's, 1043 Bette. With dark
skies and vacation time I hope to add a few more soon.
****************************************************
MAP Alert#288, August 11, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
A brief pre-vacation report from
Andrew Salthouse and more web page news highlight this Monday's MAP alert.
Andrew reports:
I'm taking
advantage of Lawrence's (private) email to send out a quick note. I found two asteroids in magnitude error during the
lunar cycle ending this week.
6670 Wallach and (5917) 1991 NG were both noticeably fainter than predicted, the former by
about 3/4 mag and the latter at least 1/2 mag. Details will have to follow later, as I must be off to work now.
My family and I will be in Germany/Austria for about 10 days starting this coming weekend. If I have time I will send
the details before the trip, otherwise I'll talk to you all when I get back.
I'm now up to 19,949 lifetime visual magnitude estimates; I hope to hit
20,000 sometime in September.
Regards,
Andrew Salthouse > end report
The asteroids above were predicted in GUIDE 8.0 @ 14.3 and 14.2, so these are very faint. Even find them "missing" after
the bright moon will result it a positive observation.
The current MAP alerts are now @
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze105aij/map/I can't wonder if improvements have been made at this site, as pages load MUCH faster when doing the HTML, and the alerts
seem better looking. I still need to add this alert and get the rest of the site complete.
One such posting
that will appear at the above URL and the ALPO main pages follows. An unfortunate error might direct readers to these sites
explained as below.
Greetings Asteroid Readers: August 10, 2008
For those of you who might have found this information
under the Google results for “Lawrence Garrett Asteroids”, or “ Asteroids and how to observe them”
let me catch you up to date.
On the date above, I was upgrading my personal home web page and noticed a new feature,
a site and web search bar was now possible. So I typed in my own name plus asteroids to see just what might come up. To my
surprise, I was directed to Google, and a book published under my name that I was working for under Springer Verlag.
I ended my work on this project in December of 2007, and no book of this title is forthcoming, under my name. I assume
Springer will hire a new author for this book. I have informed them of this error, and wish Springer the best in getting this
important book to the public.
Rather then offer my text for sale, I plan to offer it here for free in a series of articles
and instruction, much shorter then the above planned book form. In keeping with the theme of the A.L.P.O., personal
instruction will be offered to those who require it.
Current plans include an article “The planets of DAWN”,
aimed at getting new observers to established Astronomy clubs to visually observe the targets of the current DAWN probe, asteroids
Ceres and Vesta.
Sending new observers well ahead of the curve to clubs to observe these asteroids is the main theme.
No club in your area, establishing your own “DAWN Observatory” follows. All the basic information needed from
optical requirements (binoculars and small telescopes), star chart production, nightly tracking of Vesta and Ceres
will be covered. This basic asteroid observing project is an excellent introduction to astronomy, and finding sky objects
WITHOUT the aid of expensive computer guided telescopes.>
I have searched the posting of this book,
and there are many. I hope few order it, but instead read my statement and take up the DAWN project in its place.
Clear
Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet Section Assistant Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com AUDE Web Pages
Gerard Faure (8297 gerardfaure)
http://www.astrosurf.com/map
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MAP Alert #287, August 6, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Roger Harvey reports a single asteroid
on two nights
in suspected magnitude error.
August 4, 3h21m + Aug. 5 3h-3h40m
4884 Matsuyama @ Mv 15.6,
F/0.5
Thanks for the report Roger, its nice at least someone
has clear skies, rather then thunderstorms and
flood watches everyday.
Clear Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet Section Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com AUDE WebPages
Gerard Faure (8297 gerardfaure)
http://www.astrosurf.com/map
****************************************************
MAP Alert #286, August 3, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
A call for observations for asteroid
4937 Lintott highlight this August "visible header" MAP alert.
John Fletcher writes with suspected magnitude
error observation for asteroid 4937 Lintott:
Hi Lawrence.
Asteroid No. 4937 Lintott Todays MPCorb.dat says this one is 15.2v
tonight ?
Regards from John.
COD J93
OBS John Fletcher
MEA John Fletcher
TEL 0.25-m f/5.5 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD
ACK MPCReport file
updated 2008.08.02 23:11:27
AC2
jfmto@blueyonder.co.ukNET USNO-A2.0
04937 C2008 08 02.92359 21 41 14.50 +08 15 10.4 15.9 V J93
04937 C2008 08 02.92782 21 41 14.25 +08
15 11.8 15.9 V J93
04937 C2008 08 02.93205 21 41 14.00 +08 15 12.3 15.9 V J93
John Fletcher F.R.A.S.
Mount Tuffley Observatory. Code J93> end report
This places 4937 Lintott
about 0.7 magnitude fainter then predicted,
and currently fading making this a CCD object for observers. The MPC notes
a lightcurve amplitude of .22 for this object.
Richard Miles of the BBA has sent Gerard Faure and myself
news
on progress on measuring asteroid magnitudes, using
Astrometrica. Very good news in measuring magnitudes, but
this should
be best presented in an article in the minor planet bulletin, rather then my own forward. The methods seems very good, with
results in real-time as Richard quotes. We will await
a complete review to be published by Richard on his progress.
Another
Richard Miles message finding 2005 RC35 was posted
to the MPML after my call for observations. He indeed was found
2005
RC35 to be about 0.3 magnitude brighter then predicted.
My own planned observation were clouded out after nightfall.
A
"visible header alert" at last, thanking Marco and Richard
for the requested test results forward to the group.
Other news. I have forward Gerard's MAP work to Larry Owens
for posting at the ALPO webpages. His back log
is great so
I suspect this will take a while for become posted. In the mean time I have to work on my own web publishing
so I can again begin posting to the web myself.
Clear Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet
Section Assistant Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com
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MAP ALERT #285, July 26, 2008
ALSO SEE ATTACHMENTS PAGE FOR THIS ALERT
As posted by Gerard Faure, MAP database manager
Hi to all,
Exceptionally, I send to you this MAP Alert to the announcement of the update of the MAP Database !
This update of the MAP Database contains 469 asteroids, then 27 more than the previous database on June 30,2008.
...but I join them to this mail. It's a zipped Excel file for the MAP
Database and a zipped file.htm for the
Recapitulative list.
This MAP database nows contains 5138 measures (previously 4991 measures), than 147 complementary measures, mostly
made by Gérard Faure, Roger Harvey et Andrew Salthouse.
In addition to the measures of the 27 new asteroids entered in the MAP database, many new measures have been made
for 37 old MAP objets. On the total of 469 asteroids of the database, 84 of them (17% of the total) now have their
original difference of magnitude explained by the natural light variability or by some inaccuracies of measures
and then now have no need of new measures, TANDIS QUE for about two tens objects, the MAP already has a good estimate
of the difference of H magnitude. The revised H magnitude has been published for 16 asteroids in the Minor Planet Bulletin
34-4.
On the 385 asteroids interested by new measures, the actual magnitude differences are :
< 0,3 mag for 45
asteroids
0,3 mag for 35 asteroids
0,4 mag for 57 asteroids
0,5 mag for 71 asteroids
0,6 mag for 51 asteroids
0,7 mag for 36 asteroids
0,8 mag for 25 asteroids
0,9 mag for 22 asteroids
1,0 mag for 10 asteroids
1,0 mag for 12 asteroids
indefined mag. 5 asteroids
For 213 of them (45% of the total), the active lightcurve makers have permitted the knowledge of the data of asteroid
lightcurve amplitudes.
A part of the 469 objects of the MAP already have been observed on some oppositions :
0 opposition for 2 asteroids
1 opposition for 335 asteroids
2 oppositions for 95 asteroids
3 oppositions
for 25 asteroids
4 oppositions for 8 asteroids
5 oppositions for 2 asteroids
6 oppositions for 2 asteroids
Nearly one hundred of MAP asteroids already observed during two oppositions wait their third observed opposition
to obtain probably the definitive confirmation of their H magnitude difference and the publication of the results
!
Then we shall be very interested by your new measures of the MAP objects in the future !
Good summer !
Gerard
***************************************************
MAP Alert #284, July 21, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Recent postings on the Minor Planet Mailing List highlight this call for observations MAP alert.
Message 20855 from Lance Benner states recent radar observations of 2005 RC34 suggest this has a rough surface
(perhaps an E type asteroid) and asks it any photometry is planned.
Message 20856 from Vishu Reddy states "we will be observing 2005 RC34 from NASA IRTF to see if this is an E type
object".
Message 20857 From Richard Miles write "Initial checks do not indicate that it exhibits a high-amplitude lightcurve"
Such a series beggs to have visual sightings to confirm its predicted magnitude to complete the coverage. A long
time goal of mine to have so many methods complete with visual observations, always clouded out, or otherwise foiled again.
Tonight finds 2005 RC34 in a dark sky around 1h40mUT with the moon at -5 degrees. I will try to check this out,
predicted MPC value Mv 14.5. Anything other information from readers?
****************************************************
Greetings MAP Observers!
MAP Alert #283, July 15, 2008
News from Andrew Salthouse and Gerard Faure and other brief news highlight this mid July MAP alert.
First lets review Andrew's message:
July 9, 2008
Hello all,
I wanted to report on some recent observations, many of which involve magnitude discrepancies of at least 0.3mag.
I have observed roughly a dozen asteroids since the last full moon, and half of those involve apparent discrepancies
in magnitude. My observations follow (NV means "not visible"):
Object Mo UTDate Pred Obsvd
1598 July 3.1632 14.7 NV
3.2014 14.7 NV
8.1667 14.5 14.8
8.2153 14.5 14.7
9.1319 14.4 14.5
9.2257
14.4 14.5
1836 June 28.1806 14.0 NV
28.2118 14.0 NV
July 3.1493 13.8 14.5
3.1944 13.8 14.5
8.1562 13.7 14.5
9.1215
13.7 14.5
1914 June 25.1424 14.3 NV
25.1910 14.3 NV
28.1458 14.3 14.8
28.1944 14.3 14.8
29.1597 14.3 14.6
July
3.1319 14.3 14.8
2511 June 22.1458 14.4 NV
22.1792 14.4 NV
25.1562 14.3 NV
25.1944 14.3 NV
28.1597 14.4 NV
28.1979
14.4 NV
2524 June 28.1736 14.4 NV
28.2083 14.4 NV
July 3.1562 14.3 NV
3.1979 14.3 NV
8.1632 14.1 NV
8.2118
14.1 NV
9.1250 14.1 14.7
9.1736 14.1 14.7
9.2292 14.1 14.7
5749 July 8.1945 14.5 NV
8.2257 14.5 NV
9.1806 14.4 14.7
9.2326 14.4 14.7
Please note the following: all times are rounded to the nearest 5min (eg, 5, 10, 15 min past the hour, etc.)
Since almost all observations occurred between 11pm and 1am local time EDT, some times repeat. Note that not one
of these was observed on the first or second try. 2511 was abandoned after 6 attempts. I was ready to abandon 2524 after
6 failures, but I met with success on the night of July 7/8 (last night). All were fainter than predicted, and
I must presume that 2511 is at least 1/2 a magnitude fainter than predicted, or I'm sure I would have seen it. 2524
was the most southerly of the targeted objects. I do not pretend that my estimates are accurate, but they should
be directionally correct. At a minimum, 1836 and 2524 are quite a bit fainter than predicted; the others might
be explained
by the observing conditions. Of course, the southerly declinations and the high humidity this time
of year are a hindrance both to finding these objects and to accurately estimating their brightness. 1598 and 2524 are
near Jupiter, though not in the same telescopic field.
Has anyone else noted similar discrepancies? I wanted to give you all an opportunity to confirm or deny these observations
before the moonlight becomes a problem. I will attempt to follow up on a couple of these myself if the weather permits.
Looking forward to hearing from you, Andrew Salthouse <end report>
Gerard responds in a personal message below
Hi Andrew and Lawrence, July 12, 2008
Again, I was silent since some months, but not totally inactive. I shall do a report of my observations tomorrow.
This evening, I just finished a French article on the possibilities of
astronomical observations in Chile.
My next goal will be to do my report to the MAP and after the sending of the MAP Database already updated up to the
beginning of July 2008 I shall include your last sure objects. Now, I look at if I have data for your objects.
I verified and found one object in the MAP Database, among your new objects :
5749 1991 FV already observed during 2 oppositions by the MAP Members, with
F/1.3 mag of error. Observations in 1998
(2 observers) and 2002 (1 observer)
Your measures are for a third opposition, but the difference of magnitude
is this
time very low (F/0.2 mag). It will be necessary to observe again this object.
My asteroid bases, recently updated (not updated only for the two last Harris catalogs of 2007 and 2008, by lack
of free time), give :
1598 Paloque no known light curve and never observed by me
1836 Komarov " " " but observed by me in 1998, without
mag
error
1914 Hartbeespoortdam " " " and never observed by me
2511 Patterson " " " " " " " "
2524 Budovicium
Per.10.081-10.076 h / var. 0.16-0.17 mag and never
observed
5749 1991 FV no known light curve and never observed by
me
Alas, I shall no possibility to observe again before the end of August, due to the Moon after the bad weather this
week-end and to the next holidays in the West of France.
Soon
Gerard <end report>
Gerard follows with his large report on observations from July 13, 2008
Hi to all,
Despite a bad spring here and busy weeks, I reached to observe a few, during five nights, in April, June and
July 2008, at first with my CCD camera, and visually in June and July. I observed many old MAP objects notably to increase
the observed oppositions for each of these objects. I also imaged some "standard" asteroids (half-light curve < 0.08 mag)
and the open cluster M67 to continue my tests stopped since more than one year.
Then, the report of all the observations are below :
with TMu = Unfiltered measures with Tycho star comparisons
with V.... = predicted V mag, when measures not yet treated.
Night of April 25-26, 2008 with C8F and Sbig ST6 :
--------------------------------------------------
190
Ismene V13.7 standard asteroid
199 Byblis V13.8 " "
335 Roberta V11.7 " "
1199 Geldonia TMu 14.2 to 14.4 (6 measures)
F/0.2 MAP Object
3446 Combes V16.2
4790 Petrpravec TMu 17.5 - 17.6 (2 measures) F/1.3 MAP Object
8059 Deliyannis
TMu 15.9 to 16.1 (5 measures) F/0.1 MAP object
Night of April 26-27,2008 with C8F and Sbig ST6 :
-------------------------------------------------
3446
Combes V16.3
5559 1990 MV TMu 15.3 to 15.5 (3 measures) F/0.4 MAP Object
8059 Deliyannis UMr 15.3 rejected ? F/0.6
MAP object
Night of June 27-28,2008 with C8 and PL8mm eyepiece :
-----------------------------------------------------
598
Octavia v14.5
1679 Nevanlinna v14.9
1449 Virtanen v14.9-15.0-14.9 F/0.1-0.2 MAP Object
5518 Mariobotta v15.0-14.9
F/0.7-0.6 MAP Object
7778 Markrobinson v15.4-15.4 F/1.1-1.1 MAP Object - MARS-CROSSER
Night of June 28-29,2008 with C8 and PL8mm eyepiece :
-----------------------------------------------------
7778
Markrobinson v15.5 F/1.2 MAP Object - MARS-CROSSER
8567 1996 HW1 v15.6 AMOR 2
Night of July 04-05,2008 with C8 and PL8mm eyepiece :
------------------------------------------------------
1165 Inprinetta v14.3-14.2 F/0.5-0.4 MAP Object
1385 Gelria v14.5-14.7-14.7 F/0.2-0.4-0.4 MAP Object
6670 Wallach
v14.9-15.0 F/0.8-0.9 MAP Object
2771 Pulzinov v16.0-16.0 F/0.5-0.5 MAP Object
5905 Johnson v16.3-16.2-16.3 F/0.7-0.6-0.7
NEW MAP OBJECT - HUNGARIA
New MAP object in 2008, (8059)Deliyannis was again nearly its predicted magnitude at the end of April 2008.
May be this asteroid is variable ?
I observed the MAP objects 1165, 1199, 1385, 5559, 5905, 6670 and 7778 for the second opposition.
The new measures for (1385)Gelria and (5559)1990 MV eliminate nearly all the discrepancy of magnitude seen during
the first opposition; The variability is certainly the reason of the old observations.
(5905)Johnson is a new MAP Object,
but it was already observed in 1995 (before the MAP birth) by Roger also with a great discrepancy of magnitude
(F/0.9 and F/1.2). It is a binary Hungaria.
The asteroids 1165, 1199, 6670 and 7778 are fainter than predicted, as for their first oppositions.
2008 is the third opposition for (2771)Pulzinov and (4790)Petrpravec.
The high discrepancy of about 1.0 magnitude
was confirmed again two times in 2008 for (4790)Petrpravec. The faintness of (2771)Pulzinov is less important but also
continuously fainter of about 0.4 magnitude.
We have four oppositions for (5518)Mariobotta with continuous magnitudes fainter than predicted, but with averaged discrepancies
from 0.1 to 0.7 mag. The averaged difference of H magnitude seems to be about 0.4 magnitude, with the impact of an unknown
variability of may be 0.5 to 0.6 magnitude.
The new observations of old MAP objects are VERY useful to verify the previous differences of magnitudes !
Actually, we have many old or new bright (predicted) MAP Objects to observe :
(1165)Inprinetta
(1385)Gelria
(1836)Komarov
(1914)Hartbeespoortdam
(2511)Patterson
(2524)Budovicium
(5749)1991 FV
Even if the 3 last minor planets are difficult, it will be very interesting
to verify their visibility or invisibility,
notably for (5749)1991 FV seen
more fainter than predicted in the past. The summer gives more opportunities to observe
! Then let go to the sky !
Good luck
Gerard < end report>
Its very nice to see success in these reports and to see magnitude estimating is still alive and well.
Now more news. I thank Richard Miles for his message
Re: MAP Alert #282
Dear Lawrence,
Glad you were interested enough to mention this discovery.
The attached is a preprint of a short article which is
due to appear in the July 2008 issue of The Astronomer magazine: website
http://www.theastronomer.org/.
<I have left the preprint off, but members should check out this site>
So, is this super fast object spun up by sun light, or, too small in diameter to be affected by sunlight to spin
wildly for millions of years? Your next mission Richard, should you decide to accept it,
is discover which is correct
(please accept it). And yes this is a parody of the Mission Impossible TV show, sorry. Really, close observation of these
very small objects can only be of high interest.
John Fletcher joins Richard Miles in "The Astronomer Group" May issue with his report of a light curve that suggests
the H value of Eric 4954 should be corrected the H=12.4. I have not passed along the image to prevent any possible copyright
issues, but am pleased he forwarded this information for us.
Hope I have covered all my message to date here.
Now on to website news. I have also changed ISPs, and will return to placing MAP's information to the main ALPO
webpages, little by little. I had used a personal page to save Rik Hill time when MAP alerts were more active, but now they
should return with our current lighter volume.
The pages will look better as well, as I will not be confined to the limits
on my "free" page with my ISP. So for now, should any one what to know our URL, tell them to write me for any information
they need. Observing news. No asteroids yet, but a longer vacation coming next month will cure this for sure. After
seeing our July 4th fireworks, we did have clear skies here, but not very clear to the south. So, I decided to use an image
sent me by Marco Langbroek of the North American Nebula to see if this was visible. I used my 20x80mm binoculars to
indeed spot this, even "Florida and Mexico". Marco's image was the perfect guide and my earlier observations of the very low
contrast comet Holmes lead to success that would have been impossible otherwise. So my thanks go out the Marco and Comet
Holmes in which will become a annual July visit.
Last, I am off a brief visit to a so called antique show that I will not bore you with. It was a bust, but, I did
see a 1956 CRITERION 4" reflector. This was already sold. But I did leave with something
to remember, as a man looked
into the 167x eyepiece while it was pointed at his shirt. I was too far away to help him, but at least he tried!
****************************************************
MAP Alert #282, June 11, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
A power outage delayed MAP alert for June 11, 2008, as large storms covered the region yesterday. My best wishes
to members and hopes they avoided damage across the USA on these. With no new reported asteroid observations, I will
catch up on a few items of interest today.
Last month we had a few short messages to this list on Pluto being on a lifetime asteroid list as it is now numbered
in the minor planet catalog, as dwarf planet. Normal, direct posting to the list are reserved to Brian Warner, Prof.
Fredrick Pilcher, Richard Binzel, and of course Gerard Faure. But not always. Rare times such as an observer seeing
their 1000th asteroid is quite accepted for direct postings and these were welcome. But in general a request to me for
posting to the list is best, and only in the rarest times might be denied. This is only to help in creation of the MAP
alerts, and keeping things from becoming very hard to edit on my end. Should a regular "open" list be the normal state, the
alerts would become only reviews of ideas already posted.
But lets talk about the dwarf stuff a bit. I'm not one to really talk on this I guess. I count 1 Ceres as an asteroid
and Pluto as dwarf planet, so much for taking a clear stand on the subject. But, should I be contacted by any readers under
my "Planets of Dawn" project, Ceres is a dwarf for sure. Planets of Dawn or POD, is aimed at getting teachers to astronomy
clubs way ahead of the curve for spotting and imaging Ceres and Vesta. The idea is for schools to do enough homework
in advance as to impress astronomy clubs enough to create useful field trips, and whatever additional learning takes
place under the stars the better. Would be nice to see this work. So my writing is in progress.
Small talk:
Brian Warner is now acting MPB editor, its a hard act to follow so don't try! Richard Binzel will be back of course.
WOW, what a find Dr. Richard Miles! The fastest rotating known asteroid to date is really something. But I was a bit
surprised to see the most coverage of this under a Sky and telescope alert, perhaps I missed other more detailed reports
on this. Any pages of interest I (and we) should know about, please update me, thanks. Retro-imaging. Last alert I mentioned
of all things taking an instant photo (not bad really) of the last lunar eclipse. Its seems Redefine magazine might just publish
this, maybe, perhaps, could. They requested a complete image (not just the image area) of the polaroid photo. So perhaps this
month will yield a bio request for me and the good news. I have told my friends at work I plan to leave out I'm from
another planet, after all how do you think I took it :-)
Header missing again? This message comes right from hotmail, as I just don't feel like moving over to my earthlink account
today. We are changing local phone service here, so I may be moving along to yet another ISP, saving money in the process.
Stay tuned.
Prof. Pilcher as been to the minor planet news with his success in photometry and problems in alignment. Hope things
are resolved. Sounds like New Mexico is a great place retire as far as
observing goes based on his published work.
More? This time next month (July 10-14) I will be away risking going gasaline broke at the BRIMFIELD ANTIQUE SHOW, around
250 miles south of here in Massachusetts. Observations are feel to be posted to the list at this time, placing them into alerts
will follow. Something from astronomy or photography would make a nice find here.
****************************************************
MAP Alert #281, May 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
A milestone in asteroid observing and an asteroid occultation
highlight this Sunday MAP alert. Congratulations Richard!
True to his own predictions this year, Richard Bookamer has reached the 1000th lifetime asteroid observed this month,
just 7 years 10 months into his visual program. He joins the members published in MAP Alert #378, March 19, 2008, compiled
by Gerard Faure. His complete report is listed below, too full of details to edit, so enjoy his success in his message below.
<Hello all,
I viewed my 1000th asteroid, 898 Hildegard, on the morning of May 2. It was very close to its predicted
magnitude of 14.1 and I hope to view it a few more times during this opposition since it doesn't get bright very often.
I have sent this email from a new address,
rbookamer@hotmail.com which I obtained to try to avoid problems in receiving mail at my other address. Please use this address in the future, although
mail sent to the old address will still get through (with a few exceptions).
I have gotten a lot of fun, relaxation and
satisfaction from observing
asteroids and comets, and hope to continue for many years to come. Here are a few statistics
concerning my asteroid observation program as of May 2, 2008.
--Richard Bookamer
Total different asteroids viewed:
1000
Total observations (positions): 4123
Total numbered asteroids, 1 - 1000: 771
Total numbered asteroids, 1001
- 10000: 201
Total numbered asteroids, >10000: 16
Total unnumbered asteroids: 12
Total near-earth asteroids:
37 (including 20 PHAs)
Brightest asteroid: 4 Vesta mag. 5.8
Faintest asteroid: 2000 DP107 mag. 15.2
Smallest asteroid:
2001 EC16 ~150 m (H = 22.4)
Closest asteroid: 2007 TU24 0.0024 AU from Earth
Most distant asteroid: 134340 Pluto 31.24
AU from Earth
Most distant main belt asteroid: 334 Chicago 4.45 AU from Earth
Starting date: July 7, 2000
Elapsed
time: 7 years, 10 months
Viewing locations:
Micco, Florida 27° 50.849' N. 80° 31.051' W. alt. 4m
Sebastian,
Florida 27° 48.499’ N. 80° 28.141’ W. alt. 8m
Telescopes:
20 cm Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain,
f/5 and f/10 equatorial mount
25 cm homemade Newtonian reflector, f/5.5 Dobsonian mount
41 cm Meade DS-16 Newtonian
reflector, f/4.5 Dobsonian mount
<end report>
Gerard sends his remarks>
CONGRATULATIONS, RICHARD FOR YOUR 1000th ASTEROID !!!!
You are now a Member of The
Millennium Club !!!
Your data also is interesting to read !>
Clear skies me allowed observe asteroid 259 Aletheia occult 10.9-mag. PPM 160597 (TYC 0318-01328-1) in Virgo Tuesday
morning April 16. My location was predicted right on the center-line, but a path shift shortened the predicted time from around
to 16 seconds, to the 5 seconds seen. This is my 4th successful asteroid occultation from my home, moving me to about 2 minutes
and 35 seconds of lifetime asteroid shadow "watching". Yet another good reason to skip sleep
now and then.
In another minor news, I hope my lunar eclipse image done with my Polaroid SX 70 will make the grade with redefine magazine,
and be published by them. I even sent an image of the camera attached to the telescope, just to prove it was true! The chances
of them having anyone on the staff that might understand this image are much less then catching an asteroid shadow. Wonder
if this might be
the first (and last)such image to be published. I have had this professional scanned should and readers
want to see this for themselves, just request it please.
Clear Skies
****************************************************
MAP Alert #280, April 9, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
More news from Gerard Faure, a little observing success,
and a little ALPO news highlight this spring MAP Alert.
Gerard Writes:
Hi to all,
The spring is not a famous season to observe during numerous nights and effectively
the weather predictions are bad for the next ten days here. Fortunately, the most part of the night of April 04-05,2008 was
starry and under the sky I saw again 10 asteroids !
On April 04,2008 I saw :
------------------------
1382 Gerti v14.8-14.8
1528 Conrada v14.8-14.9 B/0.2-B/0.1
840 Zenobia v15.0-15.1 F/0.5-F/0.6 Old MAP object
1855 Korolev v15.1-15.2 F/0.1-F/0.2
3861 Lorenz v15.2-15.4
3428
Roberts v15.3-15.3
3198 Wallonia
v15.5-15.4 F/0.9-F/0.8 Old MAP object + Mars-crosser
3446 Combes v15.6-15.6
8059
Deliyannis v15.6-15.8 0.0-F/0.2 Recent MAP object
37384 2001 WU1 v16.1 Mars-crosser
The original discrepancies of magnitude were confirmed for (840) Zenobia and (3198) Wallonia. It was not the case for
(8059) Deliyannis which certainly is variable because it was 0.5 magnitude brighter for Roger and 0.2 magnitude fainter for
myself.
Among many possibilities, I chosen (3446) Combes because I know this French Astronomer who is a specialist of
asteroids and notably of NEA; In 1982, he made a book in French named "la Terre bombardée" which is updated in 2008
on
his website :
http://astrosurf.com/macombes/ and precisely at :
http://astrosurf.com/macombes/La Terre Bombardee 2007.pdf
If you read French, we shall read many relations between old legends and earth craters or astronomical
events in the past. It's a very interesting book !
You can see also many tables on the NEA in his website, updated
continuously
in the part named "LA LISTE DES NEA CONNUS" at :
http://astrosurf.com/macombes/partie NEO.html
Thanks for the observing and reading suggestion on asteroids Gerard.
Clearing skies came thru last night for observing
the moon near the Pleiades, hope a few readers got to see the treat as well. While I have seen this in times past, I took
the time to use my camera to both image and video the pair as seen in my 20x 80mm binoculars. A lunar close up came out not
too good, but the seeing was poor due to low sky position. The video contained no stars, but I really did not expect it. While
results were just a test, the fun was 100% successful.
ALPO news for the minor planet section.
While my asteroid book project never made it to press, the ideas are still good and fresh. I plan to create a project
for observers new to
asteroids/astronomy in general at the ALPO website. The project will be called "The Planets of Dawn".
This is of course a project to observe Vesta and Ceres. I plan to take a little advise from my publisher and present (hopefully)
a not too wide ranging program to place observers in the field to see or image these objects. It would be a shame if the ALPO
did not have such a project ready for persons seeking this type of program. While this may be "pie in the sky" I would like
to see science teachers approach local astronomy clubs to get their most interested students in the field. I plan to suggest
observing in just binoculars, and leave telescopes to those who can show them the objects, with help of star charts our own
"Dawn" website. It would
also be nice to do well enough to get a link on the real Dawn site as well. More pie in the sky,
high hopes cost nothing these days. And of course sneak in as much teaching as I dare as well. Sound good? I can see this
added on later by observing NEA's as well, way down the line.
As they say here in the USA "part of a complete breakfest",
I hope the planets of Dawn can round out at least a few observers interest in
the Dawn probe results, not only in study
online, but real time as well.
Comments are very welcome on this project.
Clear Skies
***************************************************
MAP Alert #379, April 1, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Did the header show with this alert coming from my MSN account? I've tried to paste in the address to see if it works,
would be nice!
(follow up, an error forced me to use the earthlink account :( )
News from Gerard Faure hightlights
this April Fool's day MAP alert, with the header fool me again?
Gerard Writes>
Hello to all,
By chance, the night between Saturday and Sunday here was pure and starry, just
before a new wave of rains ! I began this night by the vision of the very bright ISS following the bright European ATV Jules
Verne over the Vercors mountains at 19H30 UT before their disappearance in the shadow of Earth ! It was amazing to see the
two objects only separated by some degrees in the Sky ! After, I began a long night of visual observations of asteroids (
23 trails prepared for the night) which permitted the vision of 3 old MAP objects and 7 new objects (for me)
The lack
of time or the lack of reference stars prevented the observations of the MAP asteroids 840, 1817, 3198, 8059, 49548, but I
found a new MAP object and removed another old MAP asteroid.
Minor planets observed during the night of March 29-30 :
--------------------------------------------------------
2911 Miahelena v14.9 F/0.2
1379 Lomonosowa v14.9-15.0 F/0.0-F/0.2 old MAP object
1724 Vladimir v15.0-15.1 F/0.1-F/0.2
7267 1943 DF v15.1-15.2 F/0.3-F/0.4 new confirmed MAP object
1947 Iso-Heikillä v15.4
1479 Inkeri v15.5
2199
Klet v15.5-15.5 B/0.2-B/0.2
1794 Finsen v15.6
3401 Vanphilos v15.7? F/? Mars-crosser old MAP object
3017 Petrovic
v15.8-15.8 F/0.6-F/0.6 NEW MAP OBJECT
With my new measures, the averaged difference of magnitude for 1379
Lomonosowa falls under the half-amplitude of
magnitude estimated >0.26 mag.
This object then is removed from the active list of MAP objects.
I confirmed the
new MAP object 7267 1943 DF seen with a discrepancy of magnitude at mid-March.
I found a new MAP object with a faintness of 0.6 magnitude :
3017 Petrovic
Have you observed it before ?
After
the observations, I verified the difference of H magnitude for this
planet between the MPC and the IRAS data; It was for
this case exactly equal to 0.6 magnitude !
3401 Vanphilos, moving between two observations, was seen but alas each time
too close to a star. I had no possibility to measure its brightness. No new starry night predicted by the meteo for this week,
but I hope to do again a night for the other missed objects, before the full Moon
Cheers
Gerard> end report
Another new MAP object seen by Gerard, 3017 Petrovic, excellent.
Observing here this weekend was cut by high winds
and cold temps, far too poor for any telescope. But I did see the ISS/ATV-1 passages as did Gerard, a good -2.4 mag for the
ISS.
This weekends clear skies held a little solar viewing of sorts, indoors. Many of you might have seen or own a Suncatcher
that casts solar spectrums in your homes. Seen one you've seen them all, maybe not. I've added this to the MAP homepage at
the link below, its shape
distorted by our ceiling light. Its about 5 feet long, can't help but think it a little wild.
In fact I've added even more images from the catcher to my "collection" as this alert was composed.
http://home.earthlink.net/~lgasteroid/id17.html
Clear Skies
***************************************************
MAP Alert #378, March 19, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Messages from Gerard Faure and Richard Bookamer this "Vanguard 1 Day" (almost) MAP alert.
Gerard writes:
Again, I was busy for the end of this week ending this evening, but I
reached to observe a few
during the local "best" night of this lunation, on the morning of Friday 14,2008.
Before the report of these last observations, I wish to thank you for your answers to your own actual total of observed
asteroids but also for the various data on the type of absolute magnitudes used for the asteroids in the past.
For the
actual total of different asteroids observed visually, the
following list will give the situation for each of the visual
observers who observed more than 1000 asteroids or nearly 1000 asteroids :
Johann Palisa < 1000 asteroids last observations in 1924
Ray Fabre < 1000 asteroids last observations in 1986
Richard Bookamer 986 asteroids (on March 03,2008)
Tom Laskowsky 1000 asteroids (and more ?)
Lawrence Garrett 1233
asteroids (on February 29,2008)
Paul Comba 1288 asteroids last visual observations in 1996
Frederick Pilcher 1816
asteroids last visual observations in 2003
Andrew Salthouse 1875 asteroids (on March 12,2008)
Gerard Faure 2040 asteroids
(on March 14,2008)
Ben Hudgens 2233 asteroids (on March 08,2008)
Roger Harvey 4653 asteroids (on March 11,2008
Many
years were necessary to reach these amazing results for each observer, but nevertheless, we shall never observe more than
a few percents of the asteroids of the Solar System...
The MPC reached the 400000 asteroid orbits in February 2008, but the vast majority of asteroids are too fainter for visual
observations.
It will be more interesting for us ;-) to remember the total of asteroids visually observable.
In 2003, I made some statistics on the total of asteroids by maximum visual magnitude for the 73000 first numbered asteroids
up to 2050, thank's to the files of the brightest visual magnitudes from Brian Warner :
Total up to
mag 14.9 : 2861
mag 15.9 : 9395
mag 16.9 : 20352
All the asteroids included in these totals will be not easily seen, because many
of them rarely reach their maximum magnitude, but it will be at least partially compensated by the NEA or some bright asteroids
with a number > 73000.
About 10000 asteroids reach v15.9 and about 3000 v14.9; You may calculate your own percentage
of observed asteroids.
Thank you Frederick and Lawrence for your remarks and data on the absolute magnitudes of asteroids !
The history
of the Absolute magnitudes seems to be the following :
Before 1970, the terms "M" or "Mo" were used to represent the absolute
magnitudes of the minor planets, but perhaps in "v" at first, than as a photographic absolute magnitude after ?
In 1970,
the IAU adopted the B band of the UBV system for the official magnitude, with the letter "g" for the absolute magnitude, up
to 1977 in the Russian EMP. After, the formula "g = B(1.0)" represented the absolute magnitude, yet in the B band, up
to the EMP 1987, but "B(1.0)" was more used than "g".
In 1988, the EMP used for the first time "H" for the absolute magnitude in the V Band. "H" is used today.
Lastly, I finally reached to observe some hours before the full moon.
Here, after many starry nights in the first
part of February, we only had starry skies during the parts of two nights during the actual lunation. I used the second night
to observe 5 asteroids.
From 00H UT to 03H50 UT, on March 14, and despite some sparse clouds, I saw,
2606 Odessa v14.2-14.5 F/0.5-F/0.8 Old MAP object
1365 Henyey v14.5-14.3 F/0.5-F/0.3 " " "
7267 1943 DF v14.6-14.5
F/0.4-F/0.3 New MAP object and Mars-crosser
11398 1998 YP11 v14.8 Amor 2
7663 1994 RX1 v15.8-15.8 F/0.7-F/0.7 Old
MAP object
Averaged incertainty ~ +/-0.1 mag
(2606) Odessa is known to be highly variable (0.80 mag). It was clearly more fainter during my second observation and
fainter than 1365 which was fainter than 2606 during my first observation of it during the night. I think that 2606 went to
its minima and 1365 for its unknown maxima of light, between the first and the second observations.
The MAP averaged difference
of 2606 is 0.6 mag fainter for 0.4 mag of half-amplitude of light
(1365) Henyey already was observed during four oppositions, but only by two observers. Its averaged difference of magnitude
is F/0.4
Please, it will be VERY INTERESTING to obtain new measures by at least one of you during the next month to permit
the publication of the results BY THREE OBSERVERS in a next article on the MPB, of course with the names of the observers
! Its official V magnitude will be about V14.5 during the next lunation. Thank you !
(7267) 1943 DF seems to be fainter
than predicted; Have you observed it or do you observe it during the next lunation ?
(7663)1994 RX1 was visible during
my night, but not (3083) OAFA predicted at mag V16.0; 1994 RX1, already observed by the MAP in 2001 apparently was observed
in the past, before the MAP, because a fainter V magnitude was predicted by Frederick for 2008; With these old observations
and knowledge of the fainter magnitudes, it would be possible to obtain at least three observed oppositions with the 2001
and 2008 observations. Please Frederick, do you send to me your old data ?
I think that certainly it will be possible
to extend the MAP data :
1) by searching the "good" measures among the measures of lightcurves made out of the MAP for
the objects treated by the MAP
2) by doing some searches in the visual observations preceding the MAP
3) by comparing
the USNO and GSC magnitudes in the areas where many rejected GSC measures of the MAP have been made; If there are similar
USNO and GSC magnitudes in these areas, the measures should be usuable in the MAP calculations of the averaged differences
of asteroid magnitudes. Is there a volunteer to do these analyses notably during the covered nights?
Lastly, I saw the perfect lightcurves by Frederick in the new MPB 2008-2 !
Congratulations for these works !
On
the MPML List, I congratulated The latest iteration of the Asteroid Lightcurve Data base (LCDB) by Warner, Harris, and Pravec
at :
http://www.minorplanetobserver.com/astlc/LightcurveParameters.htm It is a big compiling of data !
You can see in this LCDB the inclusion of our last MPB article of 2007 as reference
and the report of the H magnitude estimates of the MAP for most of the 13 asteroids treated by the MAP in the MPB !
Our
work is then included in the official data on asteroids !!! A GREAT NEW !
Good luck for your own observations but also for some MAP observations
during the next lunation !! ;-)
Best wishes
<end report Gerard>
Gerard follows with yet another message with his IRAS comments, yet to be read completely
Thank you Prof. Pilcher for your visual observation comments to round out our list, and we will welcome Richard Bookamer
1000th asteroid soon!!
Another note of thanks for the Kuiper-Gehrels comments here
"As I recall both Gerard Peter
Kuiper and Tom Gehrels worked at Yerkes Observatory, associated with University of Chicago, in the 1950's. Later both moved
to Tucson where Kuiper founded the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona."
Richard Bookamer reports>
Hi Lawrence,
Glad to hear that you are staying with the MAP. I know that it is a
lot of work for you, and if there is any way I can help to ease the load, I'm willing to try. (Thanks for the kind words)
I also know how discouraging an observation program can be at times. It
falls upon us amateurs, who usually must earn
our living elsewhere, to fight bad weather, light pollution, moonlight (and in Florida at least, mosquitoes!!!) in the hope
of adding another rock to our collections, or another drop to the ocean of knowledge. At least I don't usually have to deal
with very cold weather or travel long distances in order to observe.And I hope those Vermont skies clear up soon!
Here
is my recent observation of a MAP object, along with two NEOs. All are type GMv since I'm not up to speed on AMv yet but I'm
working on it. As of Mar. 15 I have seen a total of 989 different asteroids and I'm looking forward to reaching 1000 in May,
or possibly April.
2606 Odessa Mar. 9.08959 v14.4 F/0.7 MAP object
1685 Toro Jan. 26.00973 v13.6 F/0.0 NEO
4450
Pan Feb. 10.34868 v13.1 F/0.1 PHA
--Richard Bookamer---end report
Not to waste a night this week, I took time on "Vanguard 1 Day", March 17, to try to spot this with my 12.5" telescope.
The bright moonlight left only 11th magnitude stars visible in my target field, so I packed up for another darker night. FYI,
this is an estimated Mv 13.5 object, and being on St.Patricks day is an easy day to remember to try again. What a good object
for faint asteroid observers.
Not to forget this new MAP object of Gerards!
7267 1943 DF v14.6-14.5 F/0.4-F/0.3 New MAP object and Mars-crosser
call for observations .
Clear Skies
****************************************************
MAP Alert #377, March 14, 2008
ALSO SEE ATTACHMENTS PAGE FOR THIS ALERT
Greetings MAP Observers!
A short Roger Harvey report with this Fridays MAP Alert.
March 13: 7663 1994RX1 F/0.8 @ 15.8 4:25UT to 5:25UT verifying Pilcher's data.
13166 1995 WU1 3 obs F/0.6 @ 16.0
3:48UT to 5:14UT
49548 1999CP83 3 obs F/0.3 @ 15.8 4:13UT to 5:30UT
Roger Harvey report success in confirming Prof. Pilcher data with 7663 1994RX1, very good both Roger and Prof. Pilcher!
Gerard Faure noted the very large Minor planet Bulletin with a huge amount of lightcurves, including two reports from Prof.Pilcher.
This is quite an issue for sure. Brian Warner is as always quite active.
I have attached an image of a 1952 EMP from Russia
with the names
Kuiper-Gehrels on the cover, I thinks its Kupier. Would he have been working with Tom Gehrels in 1952,
or at the same place, of is this another astronomer? Any guesses? Wikipedia does not seem to say so.
Clear Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet Section Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com When they give you lemons, toss them right back :-)
***************************************************
MAP Alert #376, March 11, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Brief reports from Gerard Faure and Roger Harvey highlight this March MAP alert.
This report from Roger comes from a Gerard message, perhaps my usual copy is lost in space.
At 11:21 10/03/2008 -0400, you wrote:
Hi Gerard, Last night was clear with the air moving smoothly
yielding good images of Saturn at full aperture (I usually
stop down my scope for planetary/moon work). March 10 Deliyannis 8059 3 obs @ 15.3 B/0.5 (a NEW MAP OBJECT)
Wow, a brighter then predicted object for a Change. While its due to brighten only 0.2 mv, every little bit helps.
Roger speaks of a few other objects not seen, such as 2008 EZ7, and 7663 1994 RX1.
He did observe 2008 EZ8, another
small close approach object.
Gerard speaks of his reaching his 2038th asteroid visually, and requests life totals from
our readers. I used to keep this up in a file, but this has lapsed on my part, so please CC me as well for postings at our
webpages. My creeping up totals have reached 1233 with 153591 2001 SN263 in February 29.
Gerard has also updated my on
a question of his observing charts for magnitudes at his telescope. These were maps from Sky and telescope from 1984, I have
used these as well. These were used in conjunction with Atlas Stellarum selected areas.
Gerard requests the following:
<The first asteroid discovered photographically was (323) Brucia in 1891 The photoelectric
measures were made and used in the seventies, but when the EMP began to use B absolute magnitudes ?
What it used before
?
What was the type of magnitude in the "Tables of Minor Planets 1973" from
Frederick Pilcher and Jean Meeus ?>
I have the EMP volumes that will cover some of this data for Gerard, and have the book by Charles Kowal should this also
be of use. I'll get the info to Gerard soon. Readers can of course answer as well.
Anything left out? Despite falling
down in the dark last week (no biggie)I spotted the Comet Holmes/California Nebula conjunction. What a low contrast pair,
quite the change from Holmes world class showing. Still I am VERY glad to have taken the time to see Holmes in its current
state of background glow faintness.
Clear Skies
Lawrence Garrett
ALPO Minor Planet Section Coordinator
lsgasteroid@msn.com When they give you lemons, toss them right back :-)
****************************************************
MAP Alert #375, March 4, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
A brief message to let members know to submit observations
as usual, and that I am signed on for 2008 as MAP coordinator.
I had a long drawn out message to describe coming out of "retirement" after just a few days, but will not go on too long.
My plans to hope to find another observer to take over these alerts who could do more observing then myself at this time
may have sounded good, but really are flawed.
I just do not think another observer will come to the ALPO and stay on for years to do this type of work. Most likely
those who could are already are up to their eyeballs in their own work and taking on a second project is very remote. There
may not be a "best time" to retire from this program, perhaps near its closing, or alerts no longer needed. Retirement will
come some day, but under which terms are unknown.
My main troubles are the cloud lock here all the time, something I need to forget about. Its been a very bad winter,
with no real observing outside of a couple of things here and there. Despite my complaints, an observer in my local club took
out his telescope for the first time in almost 2 years for the recent lunar eclipse. I have it made compared to others
who have to travel. But magnitude estimates may have to end, and you will see other observations of this and that. Right now,
I hope to spot some of the USA 193 Debris.
Also, my book project book project was not successful. I do know the wolf needs to eat too, but all they leave you is
the bones. Rather then become defeated by this, I wish to work on a new project to help new observers who visit the ALPO site.
Perhaps much of the basic items for this project can be used.
I have seen your long message Gerard, please let me review
it.
Please hold the welcome back messages, I think only my temper left
Clear Skies
***************************************************
LEAP YEAR 2008 MAP Alert #374, February 29, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
Reports from Roger Harvey and Gerard Faure highlight this special MAP alert for leap year
day 2008
Roger Reports
Feb. 28: 4790 Petrpravec 3:46 – 5:00UT 3 OBS F/0.9 @ 16.0Mv (faint or what)
2002 TD66 0:26
– 0:40UT 6 OBS F/0.6 @ 15.8
Gerard updates us:
Hi Roger and Lawrence,
Very good news, Roger, with the measures on (4790) Petrpravec which already was measured (F/0.8) in 2000 by Robert Koff
and 2002 (F/1.0) by myself. Your measures permit to have three observed oppositions with nearly the same results !
It was also the case for (5231)Verne after my recent observations on this object in February 09.
I prepared 4790
for the last lunation but it was frequently far from reference stars. I shall try this object during this actual lunation
Good end of week
Gerard
With these reports complete, I wish to announce my retirement from the MAP program and the ALPO. Future posting of magnitude
errors should post directly to this list until the new director of this list is in place. 2008 marks 20 years of my public
posting in asteroids that have included this project, my newsletter "the near-Earth Asteroids Bulletin" and my "Asteroids
Online" with America Online. In all I have posted over 450 messages/alerts and have received more then 1000 messages from
observers, first by S.A.S.E's to today's e-mail messages.
While It is impossible to thank the readers enough, I wish to extend special thanks to Prof. Pilcher, Brian Warner, Andrew
Salthouse, Ben Hudgens, Roger Harvey, and Gerard Faure.
Perhaps my longest is with Dr. Richard Binzel, who's advise really
set up the MAP alert project,thanks
Dr. Binzel. It is surly time to hand the MAP program over to a more modern observer
on his way up in astronomy rather then at my retirement stage. A CCD observer with an observatory who could direct and observe
like I never can would be great for the program. And while I will step down as director I hope to remain on the mailing list,
and if these impossible Vermont skies will even let me, report observations as well.
Since it is far too hard to say goodbye, let's not!
****************************************************
MAP Alert #373, February 13, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers!
Quite a report from Gererd Faure is all I can say for this edition of the MAP Alerts!
I hope readers can keep in mind how many people would wish to do this a life's project, not just a few nights at the
scope! Reaching so faint, magnitude errors and even an occultation event! For Gerard these are for sure the "good old days"!
I noticed his mention of "Selected area SA 51" below, might this be from the Hans Vehrenberg's Selected area atlas Gerard?
We will pass this reply along in the next alert. I could not check this as mine is long stored away. For those who have never
used the Hans Vehrenberg's selected area atlas, in conjuction with the Atlas Stellarum, it was quite a feat to succeed.
If you wish to wonder what it was like, get out your pepper shaker and place a patten on a white sheet of paper. Use a 5x
glass to observe one of the small patterns of "stars", and then imagine in blown up to fill a 8x11 sheet of paper in the selected
area atlas. I always had to use at least 160x in my 12.5" telescope to really see these fields. Or perhaps Gerard has yet
a better trick! I will let his message speak for itself, perhaps a few astronomy clubs might get a hold of this and make it
a club project to "someday" complete.
Make sure to note his new MAP objects.
Gerard writes
Lastly, a good period of starry nights on the Alpes mountains came from the last Friday up
certainly to the last of this week !
I am very busy for this actual week by my work of accountant, but during the last
week-end, I lived two amazing nights !
When I saw many very faint stars between the stars of the known constellations
at the beginning of the nights, I thought that this was the sign of a future perfect night !
The two nights of Friday
08 and Saturday 09 were very starry, without wind, humidity, pollution, turbulence, moon, haze and clouds !
I searched the faintest stars at the naked eye in the Ursa Minor
constellation and despite the proximity of the halo
from Grenoble, I reached to see the stars SAO 8221 (V+6.68) and SAO 8227 (V+7.38) located at the East of Beta UMi, high in
the sky ! I also tried to explore the photometrical chart of the Selected area SA 51 centred on SAO 79445, near Castor, with
my C8 and the eyepiece Plossl 8mm. The stars of mag V16.0, V16.5 and V16.9 were indirectly visible, respectively sometimes,
fugitive and fleeting but sure ! The results also were amazing for the asteroids; I watched 17 asteroids and
among them
16 were fainter than v 15.2 ! 10 of them are MAP objects ! I chosed the faintest objects, to permit the coverage of the remaining
bright objects by other Observers under less good skies.
Night of February 08-09,2008 :
------------------------------
750 Oskar v14.5
2080 Jihlava v15.3-15.3
5231
Verne v15.3-15.3 F/0.7-F/0.7 Old MAP object
2052 Tamriko v15.3-15.4 F/0.1-F/0.2
3675 Kemstach v15.4 Cybele
3247
Di Martino v15.5-15.5 F/0.2-F/0.2
5331 Erimomisaki v15.6-15.6
5650 Mochihito-o v15.8-15.8 F/0.2-F/0.2 MAP object 2007
2612 Kathryn v15.9-15.8 F/0.8-F/0.7 Old MAP object
170891 2004 TY16 v15.9 to 16.1 F/0.4 to F/0.6 Amor 2, new MAP Object
3288 Seleucus v16.2-16.2 F/0.5-F/0/.5 Amor 2, highly known variable
Night of February 09-10,2008 :
------------------------------
2670 Chuvashia v15.5-15.6 F/0.7-F/0.8 Old MAP object
6972 Helvetius v15.8-15.9 F/0.9-F/1.0 MAP object 2008
1300 Marcelle v15.8-15.8 F/0.7-F/0.7 Old MAP object
9219
1995 WO8 v15.9-15.9 F/0.3-F/0.3 Old MAP object
170891 2004 TY16 v15.9-15.9 F/0.4-F/0.4 Amor 2, MAP Object 2008
9117
Aude v16.0-16.0 F/1.0-F/1.0 Old MAP object
5671 Chanal v16.3-16.3 F/0.2-F/0.2 Old MAP object
All the new measures confirmed the measures of the previous observations of the MAP objects, excepted for (5650) Mochihito-o
(lower difference of magnitude) may be variable and (5671) Chanal for which the 4 observed oppositons give an averaged difference
of F/0.01 mag. This object then is removed of the MAP list.
Otherwise, the NEA (170891) 2004 TY16 is a NEW MAP Object for which my two sets of measures always give a fainter magnitude.
A search in the MPC data shows that before the definitive number, the H magnitude of 2004 TY16 moved
from 16.8, to 16.9
and lastly 17.0; May be, the H mag is yet fainter ? During my asteroid quests, I observed the nearby stars GJ 273 ( alias
"Luyten star ) at 12.4 LY near (3288) and GI 176 at 30.73 LY near (5331) Lastly, on the evening of February 05, I observed
a positive occultation of a star of mag V11.06 during 20.7 seconds by (409) Aspasia of mag V10.8
Another observer took
the same occultation by video some 10 km north to my position and observed an occultation of 21 seconds. After, I looked at
the asteroid leaving the star.
Good week !
Gerard> end report
Clear Skies
****************************************************
MAP Alert #372, February 9, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
Two more for the collection writes Roger Harvey on his latest observations for the MAP program. You have not missed an
alert, the last was a typo of mine, and will be corrected to alert #371 at the website. So many alerts, so few clear skies
:-(
Feb. 7: 6972 Helvetius 5:40 UTto 6:32 UT F/0.8 @15.8Mv
9671 Hemera 5:17 UT to 6:10 UT F/0.5F @15.8Mv
Thanks Roger
as always.
***************************************************
MAP Alert #371, February 4, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
A review of recent successful observations this current dark of the moon highlight this February MAP alert.
Mail of January 29 from Richie Bookamer
Greetings,
I am pleased to report having recently observed four near-Earth asteroids. For each one, I list the name
or designation, date of observation (UT), observed mag. (GMv except for 2007 TU24 which is TMv based on Tycho 2), predicted
mag. (MPC), number of positions recorded, and length of observing period.
(3200) Phaethon 2007 Dec. 9.38125 14.0 13.9 18 34 mins.
2005 WJ56 2008 Jan. 8.99376 11.5 11.5 8 48 minutes
2007
TU24 2008 Jan. 29.00903 10.74 12.0 5 12 minutes
2007 TU24 2008 Jan. 30.10209 10.76 11.0 3 10 minutes
2001 SN263 2008
Jan. 29.04391 13.5 13.8 3 41 minutes
2007 TU24 appeared to fade by at least 0.5 magnitude in less than 10 minutes on Jan.
29 (UT) but the fainter estimates were of type GMv and I thought that they were too unreliable to list in detail.
Good luck to all in their observations,
Richie Bookamer> End report
Wow, quite the NEO report to say the least. A near perfect score for the month, missing perhaps only 1685 Toro. Have
not seen any light curve for 2007 TU24 yet. But it was smaller
and elongated from the radar observations, so a large fading
is quite possible and with no doubt real. I missed this object visually with yet another case of "global hazing". My new term
for recent "missing" NEO's for January, this beingthe second.
Andrew Salthouse requested "call for observations on Feb. 1
Asteroids #1890 and 1929 were rather close together for
the last few days. Although 1929 is predicted to be about 0.1 mag brighter than 1890 on most of the recent dates, I found
it always to be fainter. Also, I recently observed 1805 on two nights and found it to be at least 1/4 mag brighter than predicted.
Finally, I observed 2007 TU24 twice on the night of Jan 30-31 and again twice on the night of Jan 31-Feb 1. It seemed
a bit dimmer than predicted
End report>
Gerard Faure follow up to this message on Feb. 2
May be the next night will be clear here, and I hope to observe
asteroids during the entire night, despite a predicted cold temperature. I already prepared charts for about 20 asteroids,
but I shall try to observe 1805 Dirikis during this night.
I shall update soon a list of MAP Objects at opposition in
2008, list made by Bernard Guillaud-Saumur in September 2007
In this list, there are five old MAP objects which are or
will be soon bright and for which it would be interesting to do again new measures during their present opposition :
N°/Name/Provisional
MAP Difference/Number of observed oppositions/predicted
V opp.2008/Opposition date/Predicted MPC V magnitude :
840
Zenobia F/0.4 ? M1 20080228 14.1
1365 Henyey F/0.4 ? M3 20080307 14.0
1379 Lomonosowa F/0.4 ? M1 20080214 14.1
2606
Odessa F/0.5 ? M1 20080303 13.6
3401 Vanphilos B/0.3 ? M3 20080218 14.2 MARS-CROSSER
Good week-end !
Best wishes
Gerard> End report
Gerard Follows with February 3 report
Hi to all,
I observed during the last night, but with less success than predicted, because I had the sky entirely covered during
5 hours :-( Low clouds came just after the beginning of my observations and left the sky five hours later, at 00H UT... but
the sky was not very pure after, with a loss of about one magnitude. The positive effect was a night more *hot* : -5°C and
not the predicted -10°C :-)
I used the covered hours to update partially the MAP Database. I shall finish an update at the end of February or March
2008 The weather is not very good since two months. It's difficult to have an entire night without clouds...
Since the
beginning of the year, I observed asteroids two times :
Evening of January 26,2008
--------------------------
4512 Sinuhe v14.8
153591 2001 SN263 v13.9 Amor 2
Night of February 2-3, 2008
---------------------------
4450 Pan v14.2-14.3 B/0.2-B/0.1 Apollo 1 seems variable
- 2007 TU24 v14.4 F/0.3 +/-0.2 Apollo 2
1805 Dirikis v14.8-14.8 F/0.1-F/0.1
3924 Birch v15.2
765 Mattiaca
v15.3
4497 Taguchi v15.3-15.3 F/1.0-F/1.0 +/-0.1 Old MAP Object
1006 Lagrangea v15.6
2007 TU24 : I observed this object at the end of the night "for the fun" as wrote Raoul Behrend :-) and of course my
eyes were tired, but this NEA seemed fainter than predicted and even fainter than 4450 Pan.
On January 12,2008 the MPEC 2008-A05 indicated a H = 20.1 for 2007 TU24 On February 01,2008, the MPEC 2008-B67 gave H
= 20.6May be this object is variable - I don't see data on the web up to now -but may be also it is yet fainter than predicted
in the last MPC data...
On the MPML list, Ron Baalke wrote :
"Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., have obtained
the first images of asteroid 2007 TU24 using high-resolution radar data. The data indicate the asteroid is somewhat asymmetrical
in shape, with a diameter roughly 250 meters (800 feet) in size.." As 2007 TU24 is asymmetrical in shape, then it is variable.
1805 Dirikis : It is a few fainter than predicted, but after the
observations, I saw that a lightcurve exists with
0.55 mag of amplitude. The half-amplitude is more important than the discrepancy of 0.1-0.2 magnitude observed by Andrew and
me.
4497 Taguchi : I observed again Taguchi observed in 1999 by Frederick, Andrew, Roger and myself. The 2008 observations
confirm the great difference of magnitude for this object. It would be interesting to observe it again. Its known amplitude
of light is small : 0.15 magnitude
Lastly but more personal, after the observation of 765 Mattiaca, my list of unseen asteroids among the 1000 first numbered
is reduced to 9 objects :
587, 730, 750, 827, 835, 836, 878, 887 and 935
I shall certainly observe 750 Oskar in February
or March 2008, and may be some others during the next years, but 878 Mildred (max V 16.5 in December 2014 and V16.3 in 2021)
and 887 Alinda (max V16.6 in May 2009 and V15.0 in 2024 at -20°) will be in the list for a long time...
I shall try to
observe 887 Alinda with a bigger telescope in 2009...
Good week !
Gerard> end report
Good follow up posting Gerard on 2007 TU24, and your observations as well.
***************************************************
MAP Alert #370, January 15, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
Using my Earthlink.net account, I hope to solve the missing header problems and MAP Alert #370, January 15, 2008 is visible
in your e-mail box.
A brief alert with news from Roger Harvey with a growing moon to leave little time to confirm his observations.
January
14: 5713 1982 FF3 5:28UT “ 6:21UT 3 obs @ 15.6 (F/0.5).
Near its "brighest" now, this object is due to fade in the
coming days. While this may come from earthlink account, please remember to use my
lsgasteroid@msn.com address for messages, thanks.
Clear Skies
****************************************************
MAP Alert #369, January 3, 2008
Greetings MAP Observers:
Roger Harvey starts the new year right with the following observation:
January 1 6:02 – 7:10 UT 5650 Mochihito-o
F/0.5 @ 15.5
While quite faint for most visual observers, this object is at it maximum the next week or so
and then
grows even fainter. Call for observations before the next moon.
Prof. Frederick Pilcher has sent me his Farorable elongation
text for 2008, to be placed at the website this weekend. If anyone needs this sooner, please e-mail me for the January
data.
Did the header show in this format? I still need to resolve this problem, perhaps sending this from my
earthlink
account will correct this trouble. I might re-send this message again as a test this weekend.
Lastly, anyone notice the
three bright NEA's visible this month on spaceweather.com?
A rare chance to see this many so bright objects in just one
month, weather pending. Send you sightings magnitude errors or not!
Gerard Faure sends word of his many images taken
on his vacation, but on two computers I see only a red X for the images at his website. Anyone have this trouble? I
saw only a single cat image, and should forward my own cat images to Gerard as well sometime. Perhaps you can see them @
http://album.club-internet.fr/gpmfaure
