Table of contents

 

Index to observations received from ARPS members

 

2004 XP14

 

The following reports were received up to 12th August 2006.

 

ASTROMETRY

 

David Briggs, J69

 

COD J69

OBS David Briggs

MEA David Briggs

TEL 0.40-m f/4.57 Newtonian reflector + CCD

ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.04 15:41:51

AC2 dbriggs@kepler.demon.co.uk

NET USNO-A2.0

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.98902 18 13 18.04 +63 28 39.1          12.0 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.98921 18 13 16.17 +63 28 27.4          12.0 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.98995 18 13 09.46 +63 27 42.8          12.4 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99219 18 12 49.39 +63 25 30.0          12.3 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99294 18 12 42.81 +63 24 46.2          12.4 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99593 18 12 16.23 +63 21 48.6          12.2 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99667 18 12 09.68 +63 21 04.4          12.4 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99742 18 12 03.13 +63 20 20.4          12.2 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.99816 18 11 56.62 +63 19 36.7          12.0 V      J69

 

Second report from David Briggs

 

COD J69

OBS David Briggs

MEA David Briggs

TEL 0.40-m f/4.57 Newtonian reflector + CCD

ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.08 00:16:29

AC2 dbriggs@kepler.demon.co.uk

NET USNO-A2.0

     K04X14P  C2006 07 07.95679 17 03 06.54 +50 07 47.7          15.8 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 07.96030 17 03 05.86 +50 07 39.4          16.0 V      J69

     K04X14P  C2006 07 07.96380 17 03 05.14 +50 07 30.8          15.9 V      J69

 

Roger Dymock, 940

 

COD 940

OBS R. Dymock

MEA R. Dymock

TEL 0.25-m f/6.4 reflector + CCD

ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.05 09:32:57

AC2 [roger.dymock@ntlworld.com]

NET USNO-B1.0

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.89486 18 30 04.08 +65 07 40.9                      940

     K04X14P  C2006 07 03.90089 18 28 49.72 +65 01 03.5                      940

 

Excuses, excuses. I use a GPS receiver to keep my laptop's clock accurate. Unfortunately in this instance it did not! The clock freezes when the image is being downloaded from the MX516 CCD camera. The GPS normally resets the clock after download is complete during the delay I set between images. In this instance I was imaging continuously and thus there was no time for the clock to be reset. As I was imaging in small batches I did get a couple of   measurements from the start of each batch when the clock was correct.

 

Richard Miles, J77

 

First report

 

Have just sent the following astrometry/photometry to the MPC. It will be interesting to see how the residuals turn out given the relatively small size of the refractor. I should add that I am expecting about 0.5 arcsec residuals or better. I have an independent set of 55 astrometric positions with my main 0.28-m scope. Will have a look and see how the two sets compare. I propose to pick out 7 from these 55 and send them to the MPC.

 

COD J77

>> OBS R. Miles

>> MEA R. Miles

>> TEL 0.06-m f/5.9 Refractor + CCD + V filter

>> ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.07 11:21:43

>> AC2 rmiles.btee@btinternet.com

>> NET USNO-B1.0

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.96487 17 22 21.289+55 06 25.44         13.68V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.96988 17 22 14.432+55 05 07.25         13.64V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.97624 17 22 05.813+55 03 27.68         13.76V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.98696 17 21 51.391+55 00 40.76         13.76V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99197 17 21 44.748+54 59 23.40         13.76V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99697 17 21 38.198+54 58 05.58         13.84V J77

>> K04X14P  C2006 07 05.00198 17 21 31.678+54 56 48.66         13.78V J77

 

Second report

 

COD J77

OBS R. Miles

MEA R. Miles

TEL 0.28-m f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD

ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.07 11:06:03

AC2 rmiles.btee@btinternet.com

NET USNO-B1.0

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.96252 17 22 24.54 +55 07 02.5          13.7 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.96700 17 22 18.39 +55 05 52.4          13.7 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.97396 17 22 08.87 +55 04 03.5          13.8 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.98640 17 21 52.15 +55 00 49.6          13.9 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99175 17 21 45.05 +54 59 26.7          13.8 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99712 17 21 38.00 +54 58 03.7          13.7 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 05.00339 17 21 29.83 +54 56 26.9          14.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 05.01113 17 21 19.88 +54 54 27.7          14.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 05.01560 17 21 14.19 +54 53 19.1          13.8 V

J77

 

Third report

 

COD J77

OBS R. Miles

MEA R. Miles

TEL 0.28-m f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD

ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.12 13:30:38

AC2 rmiles.btee@btinternet.com

NET USNO-B1.0

     K04X14P  C2006 07 09.92199 17 00 17.61 +49 12 51.6          16.3 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 09.93117 17 00 16.59 +49 12 40.2          16.3 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 09.93966 17 00 15.67 +49 12 29.5          16.7 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 09.94936 17 00 14.59 +49 12 17.1          15.9 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 09.96017 17 00 13.40 +49 12 03.0          16.3 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.92089 16 58 50.94 +48 40 36.6          17.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.92971 16 58 50.31 +48 40 29.4          17.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.93852 16 58 49.69 +48 40 22.2          17.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.95083 16 58 48.84 +48 40 11.9          16.9 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.95857 16 58 48.30 +48 40 05.3          16.9 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.96983 16 58 47.52 +48 39 55.6          17.0 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.98104 16 58 46.77 +48 39 45.6          17.1 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 11.99206 16 58 46.04 +48 39 35.6          17.1 V

J77

     K04X14P  C2006 07 12.09765 16 58 40.20 +48 37 52.2          16.8 V

J77

 

Final report

 

Like many observers world-wide, I observed the asteroid, 2004 XP14, which made a very close approach to the Earth in July passing by at about the Moon's distance.  I carried out time-series imaging on 4 nights using an SXV-H9 camera to obtain photometry and astrometry as the object receded during the 10 days following closest approach.  I now have all the returns for my astrometry of 2004 XP14 from the Minor Planet Center and NeoDys.  The results based on an observing arc covering 2 oppositions (comprising 675

observations (MPC) and 680 observations (NeoDys)) are summarised below.

 

 The first set of data were obtained using a 60mm aperture Takahashi refractor plus V filter.  For the remainder, I used a 280mm Schmidt-Cassegrain unfiltered.  Each astrometric measure was based on tracking and stacking in Astrometrica.  For the first observing run when the asteroid was relatively bright and fast moving (14 arcsec/min), I used 10 x 6sec images for the 280mm, and 20 x 20sec images with the 60mm.  For the

280mm data on that first night, I carried out 55 astrometric measures in total to which I fitted a quadratic in RA and in Dec.  I then selected the positions to submit to the MPC such that they were fairly evenly spread in time along the observing arc and such that the residuals from the best-fit parabola were relatively small.  The end result appears to be an improvement in overall precision although there does appear to be a bias of a few tenths

of an arcsec present.  The exercise also demonstrates that precision astrometry is possible using a small refractor provided the target is relatively bright (say V<14).

 

60mm f/5.9 Refractor + V filter

                  <------ NeoDys residuals ------>  MPC residuals

Date              V Mag  delta    RA     Dec   Chi    RA   Dec

2006/07/04.96487  13.7 V -0.24 -0.242 -0.324  0.40   0.3- 0.3-

2006/07/04.96988  13.6 V -0.35  -0.181 -0.024  0.18   0.2- 0.0

2006/07/04.97624  13.8 V -0.15   0.031 -0.324  0.33   0.0  0.3-

2006/07/04.98696  13.8 V -0.16  -0.290 -0.430  0.52   0.3- 0.5-

2006/07/04.99197  13.8 V -0.17  -0.297 -0.130  0.32   0.3- 0.1-

2006/07/04.99697  13.8 V -0.17  -0.100 -0.547  0.56   0.1- 0.6-

2006/07/05.00198  13.8 V -0.18   0.004 -0.072  0.03   0.0  0.1-

 

 

280mm f/10 Schmidt-Cass

                  <------ NeoDys residuals ------>  MPC residuals

Date              V Mag  delta    RA     Dec   Chi    RA   Dec

2006/07/04.96252  13.7 V -0.24 -0.142 -0.053  0.15   0.2- 0.1-

2006/07/04.96700  13.7 V -0.24  -0.021  0.027  0.03   0.0  0.0

2006/07/04.97396  13.8 V -0.15  -0.223 -0.093  0.24   0.2- 0.1-

2006/07/04.98640  13.9 V -0.06  -0.165 -0.325  0.36   0.2- 0.3-

2006/07/04.99175  13.8 V -0.17  -0.214 -0.239  0.32   0.2- 0.3-

2006/07/04.99712  13.7 V -0.27  -0.131 -0.128  0.18   0.2- 0.2-

2006/07/05.00339  14.0 V  0.02  -0.180 -0.125  0.22   0.2- 0.1-

2006/07/05.01113  14.0 V  0.01  -0.092 -0.187  0.21   0.1- 0.2-

2006/07/05.01560  13.8 V -0.19  -0.074 -0.166  0.18   0.1- 0.2-

2006/07/09.92199  16.3 V -0.34   0.029  0.079  0.09   0.0  0.1+

2006/07/09.93117  16.3 V -0.34   0.068  0.089  0.11   0.1+ 0.1+

2006/07/09.93966  16.7 V  0.05   0.283  0.101  0.30   0.3+ 0.1+

2006/07/09.94936  15.9 V -0.75   0.171  0.125  0.21   0.2+ 0.1+

2006/07/09.96017  16.3 V -0.35   0.065  0.100  0.12   0.1+ 0.1+

2006/07/11.92089  17.0 V -0.18  -0.020  0.154  0.16   0.0  0.2+

2006/07/11.92971  17.0 V -0.19  -0.027  0.056  0.06   0.0  0.1+

2006/07/11.93852  17.0 V -0.19   0.019  0.084  0.09   0.0  0.1+

2006/07/11.95083  16.9 V -0.29   0.159  0.104  0.19   0.2+ 0.1+

2006/07/11.95857  16.9 V -0.29   0.130  0.123  0.18   0.1+ 0.1+

2006/07/11.96983  17.0 V -0.20   0.040  0.226  0.23   0.0  0.2+

2006/07/11.98104  17.1 V -0.10   0.074  0.186  0.20   0.1+ 0.2+

2006/07/11.99206  17.1 V -0.10   0.025  0.164  0.17   0.0  0.2+

2006/07/12.09765  16.8 V -0.43   0.065 -0.175  0.19   0.1+ 0.2-

2006/07/13.92681  17.7 V  0.08   0.139  0.014  0.14   0.1+ 0.0

2006/07/13.93600  17.7 V  0.08  -0.147  0.121  0.19   0.2- 0.1+

2006/07/13.94518  17.6 V -0.02  -0.184  0.042  0.19   0.2- 0.0

2006/07/13.95437  18.1 V  0.48  -0.071  0.287  0.30   0.1- 0.3+

2006/07/13.99709  18.0 V  0.37   0.061  0.228  0.24   0.1+ 0.2+

 

Duncan Miller (J68)

COD J68
CON D. A.  Miller, Tweenhills Observatory, 2 Tweenhills Cottage, Hartpury, Glos GL19 3BG [minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk]

OBS D. A. Miller
MEA D. A. Miller
TEL 0.30-m Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD + f/3.3 focal reducer
ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.05 18:01:32
AC2 minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk
NET USNO-B1.0
     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.98854 17 21 49.43 +55 00 08.4          13.7 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99221 17 21 44.60 +54 59 11.9          13.6 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.99587 17 21 39.84 +54 58 15.3          13.6 V      J68

COD J68
CON D. A.  Miller, Tweenhills Observatory, 2 Tweenhills Cottage, Hartpury, Glos GL19 3BG [minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk]

OBS D. A. Miller
MEA D. A. Miller
TEL 0.30-m Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD + f/3.3 focal reducer
ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.07 03:03:38
AC2 minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk
NET USNO-B1.0
     K04X14P  C2006 07 04.98492 17 21 54.37 +55 01 05.2          13.9 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 05.00613 17 21 26.49 +54 55 37.0          13.6 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 05.01345 17 21 17.20 +54 53 44.3          13.6 V      J68

COD J68
CON D. A.  Miller, Tweenhills Observatory, 2 Tweenhills Cottage, Hartpury, Glos GL19 3BG [minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk]

OBS D. A. Miller
MEA D. A. Miller
TEL 0.30-m Schmidt-Cassegrain + CCD + f/3.3 focal reducer
ACK MPCReport file updated 2006.07.10 18:40:00
AC2 minor.planets@dmiller.demon.co.uk
NET USNO-B1.0
     K04X14P  C2006 07 10.02541 17 00 06.76 +49 10 31.4          16.2 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 10.02949 17 00 06.35 +49 10 25.4          16.8 V      J68
     K04X14P  C2006 07 10.03549 17 00 05.82 +49 10 17.1          16.4 V      J68

PHOTOMETRY

 

Richard Miles

 

Photometric analysis of the first night's run is complete as per the attached plot.  My information to date is that radar studies indicate that it is a slow rotator with a period of at least 30 hours and so determining an accurate rotation period will be a challenge.

 

 

 

Andrey Mezentsev

 

Some sources about this event and the original observation (Stanislav

Korotkiy, in Russian) are summarize here:

http://www.ka-dar.ru/forum/index.php/topic,434.msg3385.html

http://www.astronomy.ru/forum/index.php/topic,17871.40.html

http://www.ka-dar.ru/forum/index.php/topic,460.0.html

 

IMAGES

 

George Faillance

 

I did manage to image it the night of July 4/5. I am sending you some images, out of 90 images that I took with my SBIG ST-9XE camera and my Celestron 11" SCT working at f/6.3. The images were calibrated for bias, darks and flats using MAXIM software, but they have not been combined. The scale of all the images is 19 min x 19 min, for the camera and the SCT at f/6.3. The timing of the images was from UT (0:19:18) (JD2453921.51340) on 05/07/2006 to UT (01:07:38) (JD2453921.54697).

 

(I have converted the images to three animated GIF's to make the asteroid easier to identify. There are two in the first and third and four in the second - RD)

 

 

Animated GIF 1

 

 

Animated GIF 2

 

 

Animated GIF 3

 

Eddie Guscott

 

Composite of 276 images: http://www.practicalastronomer.com/2004xp14-1.jpg

 

The asteroid appears to occult a star in the movie - these images are from before, during and after the occultation http://www.practicalastronomer.com/2004xp14occult.jpg  The star is 10.76 mag TYC4226-1533-1

 

Nick James

 

 

Richard Miles

 

 

Martin Mobberley

 

 

 

Keith Slucock

 

 

23h.46m.32s (first frame) to 00h 30m 49s (last frame). Each frame (36 in all) took about 5 secs to download, hence the dotted line. Co-ordinates for my observing site are 51deg 30'N, 0 deg 1' 12" W, at 7m above sea level. The image area appears to be centred on a point RA 18m 18', dec 63 deg 45'N, which was a little bit different to my calculated ephemeris (I downloaded the element data from the BAA link to Harvard and fed it into SkyMap).

 

Frederick Stevenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text on images is reproduced below.

 

2004 XP14 moving SW in Draco. 2006 July 4 from 23:31 to 23:40 UT and from 23:45 to 23:51 UT. Meade 14" SCT @ f5, Meade DSI-Pro. Fred Stevenson, Andalsnes Observatory, Amersham, Bucks, UK

 

MOVIES

 

Eddie Guscott

 

Movie of 276 images: http://www.practicalastronomer.com/2004xp14_2.m1v  (it runs a lot better if you right click, save as... on the link and play it locally on your hard drive) 6.8Mb mpeg file

 

Nick James

 

Nick's movie (5MB animated GIF) was on ‘The Astronomer’ website but has now been deleted.

 

Duncan Miller

 

There are two large animated gifs (~26 Mb each) at

 

http://www.iwmassociates.co.uk/2004XP14_20060704_centered.gif

 

http://www.iwmassociates.co.uk/2004XP14_20060704.gif

 

They cover about an hour from 23:38 UTC on July 4th  to 00:41 UTC on July 5th 

and two much smaller (~1.7 Mb) Windows Media files (same data) at

 

http://www.iwmassociates.co.uk/2004xp14.wmv   and

 

http://www.iwmassociates.co.uk/2004xp14_moving.wmv

 

 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS

 

Robert Neville

 

I managed to find and track it last night from 22:45 until 22:55 UT when a layer of high cloud passed.  Data from MPC seemed very accurate. Seemed to be moving faster than anything I've seen before (Icarus, Comet 73P), but the data  showed only 68arcsec/min. More cloud terminated further observation. 

 

Index to observations received from ARPS members

 

Table of contents