New discoveriesIn the course of this work we have discovered 12 new main belt asteroids, 7 of which have been numbered:
(260886) Henritudor (181483) Ampleforth (255019) Fleurmaxwell (255073) Victoriabond (423819) 2006 TA95 (314650) 2006 OC1 (248750) 2006 RH1 |
Asteroid AstrometrySince 1999 we have been submitting astrometric measurements of newly discovered 'near-earth asteroids' to the Minor Planet Center. We have been given Observatory Code 216, which means we meet their standards of accuracy. We can take unguided exposures of up to 600s, and by stacking multiple exposures we can image with great precision to 21st magnitude.
The technique for measuring asteroid positions is quite simple; we image an area of sky and then image it again some minutes later. We then 'blink' the two images: an asteroid (or comet) will appear to move while the stars stay still. Once a position has been measured using ASTROMETRICA, we send the results via email to the Minor Planet Center. They co-relate the results of many amateur and professional observatories worldwide to refine the orbits of these fascinating, and occasionally hazardous objects. |
The funny side of astrometry (yes, there is a funny side) !
You know you are an amateur asteroid astrometrist when....
1) Your spouse checks MPECs to see where you were last night and who you were with.
2) You would like to see all stars not in the A 2.0 or UCAC removed from the sky.
3) Until you decide on a name, your newborn baby gets a provisional designation.
4) If the police ask you, 'where were you on the night of.......' you check NEODys.
5) You refer to galaxies as 'the vermin of the skies'.
6) You plan vacations and weddings to coincide with the full moon.
7) Your spouse wonders why you are so interested in One Night Stands.
8) When relatives send you family photos, you blink them to see if they've had any more kids.
9) At workshops you have no idea to whom you are talking until they mention their MPC code.
10) You check your bank statements for residuals.
11) Your job is an annoying thing you have to do to finance your real work.
12) You love winter because the nights are long and the ecliptic high up.
13) You love August because the big surveys are rained out.
14) MPC issue day is the high point of your month.
15) You ridicule your kids for playing computer games all day, then do exactly the same thing all night.
16) You spend 2 hours measuring the exact position of a 20th magnitude piece of noise before deciding not to send it in.
17) You dream of retirement so you can devote even more time to your hobby.
18) Asteroids ll is your preferred bedside reading.
19) You will happily relocate your entire family and change jobs for clearer skies.
20) You can find a small object at 400.000.000 miles but can't find your car keys.
Matt Dawson - 2016
1) Your spouse checks MPECs to see where you were last night and who you were with.
2) You would like to see all stars not in the A 2.0 or UCAC removed from the sky.
3) Until you decide on a name, your newborn baby gets a provisional designation.
4) If the police ask you, 'where were you on the night of.......' you check NEODys.
5) You refer to galaxies as 'the vermin of the skies'.
6) You plan vacations and weddings to coincide with the full moon.
7) Your spouse wonders why you are so interested in One Night Stands.
8) When relatives send you family photos, you blink them to see if they've had any more kids.
9) At workshops you have no idea to whom you are talking until they mention their MPC code.
10) You check your bank statements for residuals.
11) Your job is an annoying thing you have to do to finance your real work.
12) You love winter because the nights are long and the ecliptic high up.
13) You love August because the big surveys are rained out.
14) MPC issue day is the high point of your month.
15) You ridicule your kids for playing computer games all day, then do exactly the same thing all night.
16) You spend 2 hours measuring the exact position of a 20th magnitude piece of noise before deciding not to send it in.
17) You dream of retirement so you can devote even more time to your hobby.
18) Asteroids ll is your preferred bedside reading.
19) You will happily relocate your entire family and change jobs for clearer skies.
20) You can find a small object at 400.000.000 miles but can't find your car keys.
Matt Dawson - 2016