What to observe

Last updated 2013 March 12

Observing

This section will list objects and projects which interested observers may like to incorporate into their observing programs. Activities are listed under various categories.

The CalSKY website provides information on many objects you might want to observe. After registering try clicking on ‘Asteroids’ and then ‘This nights asteroids’. Selecting ‘Astronomer’ gives a longer list than ‘Hobby’. Choosing an asteroid from the list gives you a mountain of data relating to that object. Asteroids at opposition and Occultations are also listed.

Please send a copy of all observations and images to the ARPS Director at arps@britastro.org

Observing opportunities

Note that the data published in the BAA Handbook for 2013 can also be found in Section 3.

Targets	Activities	Procedures (1)	Instruments	Data Sources	Send results to (2);	Reporting format
VISUAL OBSERVING
Main belt asteroids	Finding by visual observing	Visual observations of asteroids	Telescope	Section 1.2.2, Targets for visual observation, BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 42-47 Planetarium software What’s Observable?	ARPS Director at arps@britastro.com	ARPS form
Main belt asteroids	Position estimates (Visual astrometry)	Visual observations of asteroids	Telescope	BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 42-47 Planetarium software What’s Observable?	ARPS Director at arps@britastro.com	ARPS form
Main belt asteroids	Magnitude estimates (Visual photometry)	Visual observations of asteroids	Telescope	BAA Handbook for 2009, Minor Planets, pp 44-50 Planetarium Software What’s Observable?	ARPS Director at arps@britastro.com	ARPS form
Main belt asteroids	Occultation timing	Occultations EAON Introduction EAON Circulars	Binoculars (only a few) or Telescope	European Asteroidal Occultation Network (EAON) Steve Preston’s occultation predictions BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 48-50 UK predictions issued bimonthly by ARPS Occultations Director, Tim Haymes	Send results to Tim Haymes (Assistant Director, Occultations, ARPS) at: tvh.observatory@btinternet.com EAON – Giles Regheere at mailto:gillesregheere@yahoo.fr	EAON form
VIDEO RECORDING AND DRIFT SCAN TIMING OF OCCULTATIONS
Main belt asteroids	Occultation timing	EAON Video Observations Drift scan timing	Telescope plus video camera Telescope Plus CCD camera	European Asteroidal Occultation Network (EAON) Steve Preston’s occultation predictions BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 48-50 UK predictions issued bimonthly by ARPS Occultations Director, Tim Haymes	Send results to Tim Haymes (Assistant Director, Occultations, ARPS) at: tvh.observatory@btinternet.com PLANOCCULT mailing list at: planoccult@aula.com EAON – Gilles Regheere at: mailto:gillesregheere@yahoo.fr	EAON form
DIGITAL SLR IMAGING
Main belt asteroids	Imaging	Digital SLR imaging	Digital SLR camera plus drive	BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 42-47 Planetarium software What’s Observable?	See Publication of observations	Add details to images as shown on images in article Digital SLR imaging
CCD IMAGING
Main belt asteroids	Imaging	Al Kelly’s CCD Instruction Guide AAVSO CCD Observing Manual	Telescope plus CCD	MPO Observing Guides	See Publication of observations	Add details to images as shown on images in article Digital SLR imaging
CCD ASTROMETRY
Main belt asteroids	Obtaining an observatory code	Astrometry – Obtaining an observatory code MPC Guide to Minor Body Astrometry	Telescope plus CCD	MPC Guide to Minor Body Astrometry (Section 15 for targets)	The Minor Planet Center at mailto:obs@cfa.harvard.edu	MPC Submission information
NEO’s and Main belt asteroids	Discovery follow-up astrometry	An introduction to astrometry Astrometry of NEO’s Astrometry of NEO’s – Follow-up observations Astrometry – Measuring trails	Telescope plus CCD	Lowell Observatory HOP MPC NEA Observation Planning Aid Spaceguard Priority List Follow-up Astrometric Program (FUAP) BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 42-47, 51	The Minor Planet Center at mailto:obs@cfa.harvard.edu	MPC Submission information
NEO’s and Main belt asteroids	Discovery confirmation astrometry	Peter Birtwhisle’s website; –Equipment –Software –Methods	Telescope plus CCD	Minor Planet Center (MPC) NEO Confirmation Page	The Minor Planet Center at mailto:obs@cfa.harvard.edu	MPC Submission information
NEO’s and Main belt Asteroids	Discovery	Hunting Asteroids from your Backyard. Dennis Di Cicco, Sky and Telescope A Guide to Asteroid Discovery Using the Sierra Skies Observatory Network by Rich Williams	Telescope plus CCD	Minor Planet Checker (to check for known asteroids)	The Minor Planet Center at mailto:obs@cfa.harvard.edu	MPC Submission information
CCD PHOTOMETRY
Asteroids and Dwarf Planets	Determining lightcurves by differential photometry	Photometry Asteroid lightcurves – Part I Asteroid lightcurves – Part II Differential photometry using Canopus MPO/CALL – A Guide to Minor Planet Photometry	Telescope plus CCD	Minor planet Bulletin (Each on-line edition includes a list of ‘Lightcurve opportunities’) BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 52-54	See Publication of observations	Publication of observations
Asteroids and Dwarf Planets	Determining lightcurves – a new method. Absolute photometry made easy!	A method for determining the V magnitude of asteroids from CCD images Astrometrica and Guide Hints and Tips	Telescope plus CCD plus Filters	Minor planet Bulletin (Each on-line edition includes a list of ‘Lightcurve opportunities’) BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 52-54	See Publication of observations	Publication of observations
Asteroids and Dwarf Planets	Determining lightcurves by all-sky photometry	MPO/CALL – A Guide to Minor Planet Photometry All-Sky Photometry: An Iterative Procedure by Bill Gary Link to Asteroid Phase Curves: New Opportunities for Amateur Observers (see PP69-78) by Richard Miles	Telescope plus CCD plus Filters	Minor planet Bulletin (Each on-line edition includes a list of ‘Lightcurve opportunities’) BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 52-54	See Publication of observations	Publication of observations
All asteroids and Dwarf Planets but mainly applicable to Main Belt Asteroids	Generating phase curves and determining absolute magnitude	A method for determining the V magnitude of asteroids from CCD images Astrometrica and Guide Hints and Tips	Telescope plus CCD plus Filters	Magnitude Alert Project (MAP) BAA Handbook for 2013, Minor Planets, pp 42-54, 84-88	Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) Minor Planet Section Coordinator Lawrence S. Pilcher or Gerard Faure	MPC Submission information

Notes

(1) Procedures which relate to both astrometry and photometry are; Timing and Star Catalogues.

(2) In addition to sending your results to repositories and anyone or any organization specifically requesting data please copy them to the British Astronomical Association’s Asteroid and Remote Planets Section Director, at arps@britastro.org.
This will enable reports to be produced for the BAA Journal. You may, of course, prepare your own reports or papers for the BAA Journal. You may, of course, prepare your own reports or papers for the BAA Journal.

Asteroid and Dwarf Planet Data for 2013

This data was originally published in The Handbook of The British Astronomical Association – 2013

MINOR PLANETS

Orbital elements

Observers with binoculars or small telescopes may find this data useful in locating some of the brighter asteroids.

The data below, for asteroids brighter than magnitude 9.0 at opposition, have been extracted from the Minor Planet Center’s Minor Planet and Comet Ephemeris Service at:

http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html

Equinox of the elements J2000
Epoch of the elements JD 2455800.5, 2011 Aug. 27.0 TT

No.	Name	a	e	i	Node	Peri	M
		AU		°	°	°	°
2	Pallas	2.771	0.231	34.842	173.126	310.063	181.701
3	Juno	2.671	0.255	12.981	169.910	248.187	122.324
4	Vesta	2.361	0.088	7.135	103.904	149.882	56.403
7	Iris	2.386	0.231	5.523	259.651	145.263	111.536
8	Flora	2.201	0.156	5.888	110.935	285.184	70.059
9	Metis	2.386	0.123	5.575	68.949	6.244	248.442
14	Irene	2.590	0.166	9.108	86.206	97.352	221.966
20	Massalia	2.410	0.142	0.708	206.179	256.757	99.553
324	Bamberga	2.686	0.337	11.103	327.980	43.998	182.649

EPHEMERIDES

The geocentric data below, for asteroids attaining magnitude 9.0 or brighter, have been extracted from the Minor Planet Center Ephemeris Service at:

http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html

Equinox J2000
Epoch JD 2455800.5, 2011 Aug. 27.0 TT

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