Shenton Park Observatory

A near encounter with the south celestial pole,  2007 XB10 is finally recovered by D21 under some challenging weather conditions.

Continue reading →

Shenton Park Observatory (D21) continues its record breaking faint target work with the recovery of 2008 VK14.

Continue reading →

The automation at Shenton Park Observatory was put to the test after a period of inactivity this week with several important NEO confirmations and follow up observations:

Continue reading →

After a long hiatus due to some serious site renovations, Shenton Park Observatory is back on-line and has immediately provided important follow up work for JPL on 2010 DJ1 – the fastest moving NEO yet tracked by us.

Continue reading →

In another first, 2008 WB59 was recovered by D21 and followed shortly after by our sister station Tenagra Arizona (926). The Australia/US recovery was coordinated by Paulo Holvorcem in South America. A truly global team!

The MPEC can be found here.

Under very challenging conditions (a near full moon), D21 Shenton Park recovers 2005 TY51. Recovered by us initially on August 28th, we had to wait through bad weather until September 3rd to confirm our observations. Fortunately most stations are ‘closed for full moon’ and we were lucky to secure the second night’s observations and the subsequent recovery despite intermittent cloud. At magnitude 20.2, this is our faintest recovery to date.

Thanks as always to our Tenagra collaboration, and Paulo’s uncanny skills.

The MPEC can be found here.

Luckas Obseratory (D21) takes advantage of a clear night after weeks of endless rain and among its numerous NEO submissions, manages an appearance in a special MPEC 2009-Q56 announcing a new NEO, 2009 QF31. Thanks as always to Paulo Holvorcem.

The MPEC can be found here.

Shenton Park Observatory (D21) as part of the Tenagra initiative recovered NEO 2004 RK9. Not seen since 2004, the magnitude 19.6 target represents the culmination of efforts to fine tune the telescope’s tracking, and allow longer un-guided exposures for fainter objects. Thanks to Paulo Holvorcem and his uncanny skill in the timely acquisition and measurement of this faint target under very difficult sky conditions.

The MPEC can be found here.

Tenagra Western Australia’s potential “first” minor planet discovery has been followed now for almost 4 months. It has yet to be linked with a previous discovery, which is amazing for such a bright object. Further observations at future oppositions will be required.

A link to orbital information and an orbit diagram can be found here.

Long lost asteroid 6344P-L was co-recovered as 2007RR9 by SETI and Tenagra Western Australia. This is a potentially hazardous “dead” comet nucleus. See the animated GIF made by Paulo Holvorcem.

Tenagra Western Australia recovers long lost asteroid 2000TH1. It  was found 9.8 deg from the nominal position.  If it had been 3 FOVs further out from the nominal position, it would have been missed. The search covered 21 deg along the recovery line, 10.5 deg on each side of the nominal position.

Tenagra Western Australia is honoured by the naming of a minor planet after the owner/astronomer Paul Luckas. Discovered in 2001 by Michael Schwartz and Paulo Holvorcem, 131186Pauluckas is a main belt asteroid. Physical and orbital details can be found at the NASA/JPL small body database website, which includes a very cool animated orbit diagram.

Thanks and appreciation to the Tenagra II team for their generosity in the naming of this discovery.

Tenagra Western Australia recovers lost minor planet – 2002SV – not far from the south celestial pole.

K02S00V  C2007 08 11.88203 03 56 22.13 -76 48 40.3          19.3 R EP041D21
K02S00V  C2007 08 11.88652 03 56 19.02 -76 48 40.0          19.2 R EP041D21
K02S00V  C2007 08 11.89029 03 56 16.26 -76 48 39.0          19.1 R EP041D21
K02S00V  C2007 08 12.88581 03 45 03.37 -76 43 39.2          18.3 R EP041D21
K02S00V  C2007 08 12.88933 03 45 00.88 -76 43 38.3          18.8 R EP041D21
K02S00V  C2007 08 12.89284 03 44 57.83 -76 43 37.5          19.2 R EP041D21

Observer details:
D21 Shenton Park.  Observers P. Luckas, P. R. Holvorcem, M. Schwartz.
    Measurer P. R. Holvorcem.  0.35-m f/9.4 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD.