Observation by Dr Paul Leyland: (50000) Quaoar

Uploaded by

Dr Paul Leyland

Observer

Dr Paul Leyland

Observed

2023 Aug 17 - 20:55

Uploaded

2023 Aug 28 - 18:48

Objects

50000 Quaoar

Equipment

0.4m Dilworth Relay
SX 814 CCD camera
No filter

Exposure

820s in 29 subs, stacked on the predicted motion of the TNO.

Location

Tacande Observatory, MPC J22

Target name

(50000) Quaoar

Title

(50000) Quaoar

About this image

(50000) Quaoar is given in the Handbook at magnitude 18.8 and so ought to be easy to image.

Unfortunately it lies in a dense part of the MW in Ophiuchus where 19th magnitude or brighter stars are only a few arcseconds apart. Accordingly, it is necessary to wait until it moves into a relatively clear spot. The above shows it about 13" away from a much brighter star and close to a line of 19th magnitude stars.

The right pane shows the DSS2 image of the field and the ephemeris position of the TNO marked with a purple cross.

Incidentally, note the "missing" object in the line of four stars in my image at the 5 o'clock position from (50000) Quaoar compared with that from the DSS2. It is present in Gaia DR3 but was much fainter when the DSS2 image was taken. Gaia DR3 shows it to be extremely red so it may be a CrB or perhaps a dust-reddened Mira. I do not yet know which.

(Also incidentally: I took many more subs but I forgot to turn on the Peltier cooler on the camera so most of the intended 50 minutes of data were wasted. Doh!)

Files associated with this observation

quaoar+DSS2.png (228.0 kB)

Like this image

Tim Haymes, Gerard Cauchi, Mattia Piccoli

Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.

Registered charity no. 210769
Registered company no. 117572

For more information including contact details, click here.

Our Terms of Use are here.

Our Privacy Policy is here.