Shenton Park Observatory

2012 TV discovered by our friends at Tenagra was imaged by the new Ritchey-Chrétien at D21. With an estimated diameter of between 20m and 40m, this fast moving NEO brightened and sped up as it headed south, coming within the orbit of our moon.

Click here to open a video of the NEO, produced using exposures of 5 seconds, taken at intervals of 15 seconds over the course of 32 images.

7th October 2012, 13:34:03UT. A 10 second exposure. Field is approximtely 30 arc minutes.

(click on image to enlarge)

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Three quick confirmations before the onset of bad weather. The MPECs for each can be found at 2010PM10, 2010PQ10, and 2010PR10.

With the published observations of 2010 NR1, Shenton Park Observatory hits its 1000th published Near Earth Object observation. Together with this milestone, D21 also confirmed 2010 PM10 at magnitude 19.7. The MPEC can be found here, and D21’s full listing of 1000 NEO observations can be found here at NEODyS.

Despite cloud interruptions, automation at D21 allowed the recovery of 7 NEOCP objects, 4 of which appear on special MPECs. The night began with confirmation attempts on 5 new LINEAR targets. D21 achieved two immediate recoveries, reducing the target uncertainties to zero.  Automated resumption after clouds allowed the recovery of the remaining LINEAR targets, including 2010 PL9 with a published magnitude of 19.7, and two new NEOs from our cousins at E12. The 4 confirmations that achieved MPECs are 2010 PH9, 2010PJ9, 2010PK9 and 2010PL9.

Thanks as always to Paulo’s uncanny targetting skills, and excellent pipeline.

Another busy two nights at D21 following up LINEAR and WISE targets sees us join a number of other observatories in confirming several new near Earth objects, including two which appear in special MPECS – 2010 PJ and 2010 PO2.

With an uncertainty line of some 16 degrees long, Paulo Holvorcem scheduled a of mosaic of 35 overlapping fields at Shenton Park Observatory. The NEO was finally found almost 4 degrees from its nominal position on night two of the search. A third night of clear skies at Shenton Park netted this important recovery thanks to Paulo’s excellent pipeline. The MPEC can be found here.

D21 Shenton Park recovers 2002 AC9 under the waxing first quarter moon. Pre-recovered in images taken on July 19, 2002 AC9 was found again on July 20 approximately 1 degree from its nominal position. A 15 field mosaic was initially used to track down the magnitude 18.5 minor planet, in which an additional 11 faint known main belt asteroids were also detected by Paulo’s excellent pipeline. The MPEC can be found here.

Additional images of 2002 BF25 taken by Paulo Holvorcem at D21 on July 19 have reduced the uncertainty to < 1″ in time for scheduled radar observations at Arecibo. Imaged in the morning sky, 2002 BF25 is now moving at 9.5 degrees per day as it heads towards solar conjunction.

Under freezing temperatures, D21 recovers 2002 BF25 over two clear winter nights. Observed last in March 2002,  the recovery has reduced the uncertainty of 2002 BF25 considerably. This is important, as the object will become an Arecibo radar target during July 22nd – 24th. The MPEC can be found here. Thanks to Paulo Holvorcem.

Shenton Park Observatory joins a number of others in the confirmation of two new Near Earth Objects – 2010 JF and 2010 JG – thanks to some excellent seeing, and Paulo Holvorcem’s hard work. The two MPECS can be found here (2010JF) and here (2010JG).

An intervening full moon, and a quiet period for southern hemisphere observers allowed D21 to assist in the recovery of 2008 JP as it slid past our sister station’s southern horizon. The MPEC can be found here.