ALARMING UPDATE Getting Ready for Impact with 1998 OX4?
AN ASIDE: 9/23/00 C2 23:50 Not sure what this artifact below might be, but gives me the creeps!
Wider Field Edit
Enhanced Detail
UPDATE: OBJECT GOES OFF THE SOHO FIELD OF VIEW
The reasons that this object is important are:
1) It moves in an opposite direction to the star field.
2) It cannot be identified as a known solar system planet.
3) It is seen on several images over a long period of time.
4) It doesnt appear to have a tail, which suggests it is not a comet.
SOLVED?
9/18/00 11:28:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time From: chergen@fortuna.lpl.arizona.edu (Carl Hergenrother) Don, The mystery SOHO object is Comet 2P/Encke just a few days after perihelion. Carl Hergenrother Lunar and Planetary Lab University of Arizona |
Whipple, for one, concurred. He pointed out that Encke, some 5 kilometers across, most probably had several dormant and even larger companions. In addition there have so far been two other comets identified in the stream and 13 Earth crossing asteroids.
Not all agree: 18, 2000 at 02:34:57 PM EDT
Posting: I don`t think that`s Encke; last time it was on SOHO it took 2 1/2 days to move out of the SOHO view ...
Star chart 9/14-15/00
Date: 9/14/00 7:42:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time
Dear Kent, 1st time response to you but since I monitor Lasco regularly this one I felt I needed to bring to your attention. At approx the 7 to 8 o'clock position from the sun and approx 2/3 of the way out from center an object appears that is moving in the opposite direction of backgrounds stars as it fades in at around image 30 or image 31.This is using the Java console running it in its normal fast mode. Any Ideas? I'm thinking a planetary body possibly heading in our direction? Can orbitals be plotted on this Object? Anxiously waiting a reply.
Jeff from Houston
Date: 9/15/00 6:06:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: BARDSQUILL
To: Jeff from Houston
All I can say at this point is the perspective shows the bogey incoming, and that it is not a known planet.
Kent
Date: 9/15/00 6:54:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time
Hi Kent,
Agreed that its not a planet nor a comet as I would assume a comet should show a tail. An asteroid, 76p, or ET seems most likely. My last download of C3 shows another object following our initial bogey in 2 frames ,but the trajectory is slightly different. Appears it's trajectory perhaps 5-10 degrees off of initial object. But of course 2 frames is not enough to even say if 2nd object is not just a fluke.
Jeff from Houston
Date: 9/23/00 1:13:33 AM Pacific Daylight
Time
In a message dated 9/23/00 1:06:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time, ANON writes: << Did I miss something? Where is all the info on this incoming bogey? Or was it incoming bogus? >> EDITOR: Still a mystery. No takers on the orbital calculation based solely on C3 data. NASA and University of Arizona said, Comet Encke, which seemed to quell the challenge, although input still most sought. Candidates: 1. Comet Encke 2. Near Earth Asteroid 2000 RD53 (closest approach to earth) 3. 2000 QW7 4. None of the above This is where it stands. Many of these investigations end up in no final conclusion, alas. Kent |
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Hope for an orbital fix on this object. Any takers?
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