FMO Page News

2006 Feb 25 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer C. Li submitted this FMO on 2006 25. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Vh. The object was moving about 16 deg/day. Normally this high rate may cause the object to be rejected by the observer (our upper limit is 10-15 deg/day) but as it was found early in the night and the followup telescope was open the observer submitted it to the MPC.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2006 Feb 27 - The MPC noted this object is an artificial satellite.

2006 Feb 20 -
FMO Recovery

Reviewer H. Liu submitted this FMO on 2006 Feb 20. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Vd. The object was moving about 5 deg/day. Unfortunately, it was discovered by the other observatory and listed in the confirmation page as 6D01A3D.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2006 Feb 22 - The MPC designated this object as 2006 DU.

2006 02 07 -
FMO Recovery

Reviewer C. Wang submitted this FMO on 2006 02 07. The object is 2005 YY128 discovered on 2005 Dec 30.


Middle and right images are zoomed.
JPEG image

2006 Jan 31 -
FMO Recovery

Reviewer Zhichen Pan submitted this FMO on 2006 Jan 31. The object is 2006 AS2 discovered on 2006 Jan 05.


Middle and right images are zoomed.
JPEG image

2006 Jan 07 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer H. W. McGee submitted this FMO on 2006 07. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40V5. The object was moving about 4 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2006 Jan 8 - The MPC designated this object as 2006 AT3.

2006 Jan 07 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer P. Lau submitted this FMO on 2006 07. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40V3. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2006 Jan 8 - The MPC designated this object as 2006 AS3.

2005 Dec 31 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer R. G. Konkol submitted this FMO on 2005 Dec 31. The object was moving about 8 deg/day. It was discovered by the another observatory.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Dec 31 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 YU128.

2005 Dec 21 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer S. Kürti submitted this FMO on 2005 Dec 21. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40UU. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Dec 21 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 YK.

2005 Dec 07 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer K. R. Fetter submitted this FMO on 2005 Dec 07. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40UJ. The object was moving about 11 deg/day. Normally this high rate may cause the object to be rejected by the observer (our upper limit is 10-15 deg/day) but as it was found early in the night and the followup telescope was open the observer submitted it to the MPC.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Dec 8 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 XZ7.

2005 Nov 25 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Pawel Czuma submitted this FMO on 2005 Nov 25. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40U5. The object was moving about 5 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Nov 26 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 WP3.

2005 Nov 25 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Tao Chen submitted this FMO on 2005 Nov 25. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40U3. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Nov 26 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 WO3.

2005 Nov 21 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Chao Ming Fu submitted this FMO on 2005 Nov 21. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Tv. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Nov 22 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 WB1.

2005 Oct 31 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Li Sheng submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 31. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40TQ. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Nov 1 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 UV64.

2005 Oct 27 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Roger Dymock submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 27. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40T7. The object was moving about 10 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 27 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 UH5.

2005 Oct 26 -
FMO Recovery

Reviewer David Higgins submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 26. The object is 2005 UG3 discovered on 2005 Oct 25.


Middle and right images are zoomed
JPEG image

2005 Oct 26 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Ernesto Guido submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 26. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40T1. The object was moving about 8 deg/day.


Middle and right images are zoomed
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 27 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 UW3.

2005 Oct 24 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer David Higgins submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 24. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Su. The object was moving about 3 deg/day.


Middle and right images are zoomed
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 25 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 UL1.

2005 Oct 22 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stefan Kürti submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 22. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Sl. The object was moving about 14 deg/day. Normally this high rate may cause the object to be rejected by the observer (our upper limit is 10-15 deg/day) but as it was found early in the night and the followup telescope was open the observer submitted it to the MPC.


Middle and right images are zoomed
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 24 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 UF.

2005 Oct 13 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Micheal Boschat submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 13. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40Sf. The object was moving about 16 deg/day. Normally this high rate would cause the object to be rejected by the observer (our upper limit is 15 deg/day) but as it was found early in the night and the followup telescope was open the observer submitted it to the MPC.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 14 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 TV51.

2005 Oct 11 -
FMO Re-Discovery

Reviewer Roberto Gorelli submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 11. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40SV. The object was moving about 9 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 13 - This object was first discovered by XueJun Zhang (SW40SM). The MPC designated this object as 2005 TH50.

2005 Oct 09 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer XueJun Zhang submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 09. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40SM. The object was moving about 12 deg/day and recovery prospects are poor due to its rate.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 10 - Unfortunately the Spacewatch followup telescope was closed due to wind (the altazimuth telescope has a much lower wind limit) so immediate followup was not possible, causing the object to be lost.

Update 2005 Oct 13 - This object was re-discovered by FMO Project Reviewer Roberto Gorelli(SW40SV). The MPC designated this object as 2005 TH50.

2005 Oct 09 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Josep Gomez submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 09. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40SK. The object was moving about 6 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 13 - Due to the object's close approach to the earth, the MPC designated this object as 2005 TK50 even though the object had less than a 1 day arc. 2005 TK50 flyby MPG animation created by Marco Langbroek.

2005 Oct 07 -
FMO Re-Discovery

Reviewer Elzbieta Bogucka submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 07. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40SF. The object was moving about 10 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 13 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 TD49

2005 Oct 07 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Sergio Radaelli submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 07. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40SE. The object was moving about 2 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Oct 13 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 TE49

2005 Oct 01 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Michel Ory submitted this FMO on 2005 Oct 01. This object, 2005 SJ19, had been discovered on 2005 September 27.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

2005 Sep 12 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Mariusz Trojanowski submitted this FMO on 2005 Sep 12. This bright object, 2005 RJ3, had been discovered on 2005 September 5.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

2005 Aug 31 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer ShuShan Ding submitted this FMO on 2005 Aug 31. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40QY. The object was moving about 4.6 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Sep 01 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 QQ87.

2005 Aug 31 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stefan Kürti submitted this FMO on 2005 Aug 31. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40QX. The object was moving about 10.5 deg/day.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

Update 2005 Sep 01 - The MPC designated this object as 2005 QP87

2005 Aug 29 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer D. Ye submitted this FMO on 2005 Aug 30. Again the object turned out to be recently discovered 2005 QP11.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image

2005 Aug 29 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Josep Gomez submitted this FMO on 2005 Aug 29. The object was submitted to MPC as SW40QH. The object turned out to be 2005 QP11 which was discovered a night earlier by automatic detection.


Zoomed image is on the right.
JPEG image (Rotated)

Update 2005 Aug 29 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 QP11

2005 July 11 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Ed Majden submitted this FMO on 2005 July 11. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Pe.


Zoomed image is on the right.

Update 2005 July 12 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 NX55

2005 June 27 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stan Pope submitted this FMO on 2005 June 27. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Nt.

Please note that there is a ghost star image (short horizontal) in one of the frame but that is not the submission. The submission is the brighter diagonal streak in the middle.


Zoomed image is on the right.

Update 2005 June 28 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 ME5


2005 May 07 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Tony Hoffman submitted this FMO on 2005 May 07. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40MS.

Update 2005 May 09 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 JB22

2005 May 03 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Mariusz Trojanowski submitted this FMO on 2005 May 03. The object was moving about 10 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40MI.

Update 2005 May 03 -The MPC identified this object as the Astron rocket stage.

2005 April 09 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Marco Langbroek submitted this FMO on 2005 April 09. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LW.

Update 2005 April 11 -The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 GG81

2005 April 02 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Robert Gagliano submitted this FMO on 2005 April 02. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LR.

Update 2005 April 05 - Clouded out next night and unable to recover this object.

2005 Apr 01 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Jun Yu submitted this FMO on 2005 Apr 01. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LO.

Update 2005 Apr 02 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 GT
.

2005 Mar 16 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Robert Klein submitted this FMO on 2005 Mar 16. The object was moving about 3 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LK.

Update 2005 Mar 17 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 FJ
.

2005 Mar 11 -
The two objects below have same rate of motion, direction, and brightness. Their positions are very close. We suspect that the objects are related. Perhaps man-made.

FMO -- But MPC identified as an artificial satellite.
Reviewer Sergio Foglia submitted this FMO on 2005 Mar 11. The object was moving about 10 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LF.

Update 2005 Mar 11 - This object is a geocentric artificial satellite.

Update 2005 Mar 16 - This object is 83-20A 13901 ASTRON's rocket 83 20D 20413.



FMO -- But MPC identified as an artificial satellite.
Reviewer Xilian He submitted this FMO on 2005 Mar 11. The object was moving about 10 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40LE.

Update 2005 Mar 11 - This object is a geocentric artificial satellite.

Update 2005 Mar 15 - SW40LE was 83-20A 13901 ASTRON.

2005 Mar 03 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Robert Klein submitted this FMO on 2005 Mar 03. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40L3.

Update 2005 Mar 08 - The object was very faint and recovery failed due to cloudy weather.

2005 Feb 02 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Sergio Foglia submitted this FMO on 2005 Feb 02. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Ku.

Update 2005 Feb 05 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2005 CK


Discovery credit correction

2004 Dec 20 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stan Pope submitted this FMO on 2004 Dec 20. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Jh.

Update 2004 Dec 21 - The MPC designated this FMO as 2004 YD5. It passed 0.00023 AU from the Earth on Dec. 19.86 UT. According to the Close Approaches To The Earth by Minor Planets page this was the second closest known approach by an FMO as of 2004 Dec 21. 0.00023 AU is 34,500 km, well within the geosynchronous altitude! H of 29.3 means it was about 4-9 meters in diameter.

2004 Dec 12 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Josep. J. Gomez submitted this FMO on 2004 Dec 12. This object was moving at 4.8 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40JF.

Update 2004 Dec 13 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 XP35

2004 Oct 23 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stu Megan submitted this FMO on 2004 Oct 23. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Hu.

Update 2004 Oct 23 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 UH1

2004 Oct 08 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Robert Klein submitted this FMO on 2004 Oct 08. This object was moving at 8.2 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40HK .

Update 2004 Oct 09 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 TJ10

2004 Sept 23 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Mariusz Kuczewski submitted this FMO on 2004 Sept 23. This object was moving at nearly 6 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40GS.

Update 2004 Sept 24 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 ST26

2004 Sept 16 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Lawrence Garrett submitted this FMO on 2004 Sept 16. This object was moving at nearly 10 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40DV.

Update 2004 Sept 17 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 SA

2004 Sept 16 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Sébastien Vaast submitted this FMO on 2004 Sept 16. The object, 2004 RS109, had been discovered 6 days earlier. Vaast's observations resulted in a DOU, 2004-S06.

2004 Sept 16 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Ernesto Guido submitted this FMO on 2004 Sept 16. The object, 2004 RG164, had been discovered 6 days earlier. Guido's observations resulted in a DOU, 2004-S06.

2004 Sept 12 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Richard Broad submitted this FMO on 2004 Sept 12. The object, 2004 RS109, had been discovered 2 days earlier and MPECed the night of Richard's recovery. Richard's observations resulted in a DOU, 2004-R67.

2004 Aug 23 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Richard Broad submitted this FMO on 2004 August 23. This object was moving at 4.8 deg/day. We submitted the FMO to MPC as SW40EW.

Update 2004 Aug 25 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 QJ13

2004 Aug 20 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Sebastian Hoenig submitted this FMO on 2004 August 20. This object was moving at 3.7 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40EK.

Update 2004 Aug 23 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 QO5

2004 Aug 20 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Jan Manek submitted this FMO on 2004 August 20. This object was moving at 8.2 deg/day. We submitted the FMO to MPC as SW40EB.

Update 2004 Aug 23 -The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 QR4

2004 June 19 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Ed Majden submitted this FMO on 2004 June 19. This object was moving at 2.6 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40E6.

Update 2004 June 21 -The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 MV2

2004 June 17 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Lawrence Garrett submitted this FMO on 2004 June 17. This object was moving at 11.9 deg/day. We submitted the FMO to MPC as SW40E3.

Update 2004 June 19 -The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 MO1

2004 June 14 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Ken Pavitt submitted this FMO on 2004 June 14. This object was moving at 2.6 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Dv.

Update 2004 June 15 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 LA10

2004 May 28 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Anton Marais submitted this FMO on 2004 May 28. This object was moving at nearly 10.6 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Dl.

Update 2004 June 01 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 KG17

2004 May 24 -
FMO -- This may have been SMART-1.

Reviewer Robert Gagliano submitted this FMO on 2004 May 24. This object was moving at nearly 11.5 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40Di. The MPC notified us that SW40Di has a geocentric object. Could this be SMART-1? If so, we'll see it again.

2004 May 16 -
FMO -- But MPC identified as an artificial satellite.

Reviewer Eric Knapp submitted this FMO on 2004 May 16. This object was moving at nearly 10.6 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40DW. The MPC notified us that SW40DW is an artificial satellite.

2004 May 14 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Lisa Turner submitted this FMO on 2004 May 14. The object was added to MPC confirmation page as SW40DV. This object was moving at nearly 11 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40DV.

Update late 2004 May 14 -The MPC designated this FMO as 2004 JO12

2004 May 14 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Richard Broad submitted a 30 deg/day FMO on 2004 May 14. Objects moving at rates > 20 deg/day are too difficult to recover and many observers will respond with the 'trail too long' comment. The observer for the night of 2004 May 14, however, did submit the object as SW40DU and the CP has posted it. Unfortunately the chances of recovery are too slim for Spacewatch to make an attempt.

2004 May 13 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Franco Mallia submitted this FMO on 2004 May 13. The object was added to MPC confirmation page as SW40DT. This object was moving at 3.7 deg/day (good catch!) and recovery prospects are good.

Update late 2004 May 14 -The MPC designated this FMO as 2004 JP12

2004 April 28 -
FMO -- But MPC identified as an artificial satellite.

Reviewer Franco Mallia submitted this FMO on 2004 April 28. This FMO was traveling at the rate of 19.2 deg/day. Its rate was over our 10 deg/day limit but since it was very bright there was a good chance of successful recovery. We submitted to MPC as SW40DP. The MPC notified us that SW40DP is an artificial satellite.

2004 April 23 -
FMO -- But known

Reviewer Andrew Walker submitted this FMO on 2004 April 23. Unfortunately, the FMO was discovered on April 19th by another survey telescope. It was designated as 2004 HA1. We submitted the new measurements and they may still generate an MPEC or DOU.

Update 2004 Apr 26 - our measurements were included in a Daily Orbit Update (DOU): MPEC 2004-H52. For DOUs the observers are not listed.

2004 April 23 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Robert Gagliano submitted this FMO on 2004 April 23.

Update 2004 April 24 - The MPC designated this FMO as
2004 HC33
.

2004 April 22 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Richard Broad submitted this FMO on 2004 April 22. This object was moving at nearly 11.5 deg/day. We submitted this object to MPC as SW40DJ. This object was moving very fast at 11.5 deg/day and it is faint. Due to the trail length and faintness, recovery prospects are not good.

April 23 update - indeed the object was too uncertain for our followup telescope to recover it. We took three exposures with the mosaic in hopes of recovering it through the FMO Project pages. If this object was observed earlier on the night of April 22 so that the follow telescope could have recovered it once that same night we would have had much better chances of recovery on April 23.

2004 March 27 -
FMO Discovery

Reviewer Michael Begam submitted this FMO on 2004 March 27. The MPC designated this FMO as 2004 FC18.

2004 March 20 -
FMO Discovery

Robert Klein submitted this 18 degree/day FMO on 2004 March 20. Unfortunately, we only obtained two measurements so the object could not be mailed to the MPC. Objects this fast have a high probably of being lost, but an MPEC is possible - if we are lucky.

We continue to improve the speed and effectiveness of our measurement tools to assist us in fast recovery of these long trails. While we should be able to get these objects on the MPC's Confirmation Page in the future the possibility of an actual designation is small as the object is often not visible the following night due to acceleration.

2004 - March 01
FMO Project Milestone: First PHA Recovery!

2000 EV70, a PHA not seen since 2000 April 23, was recovered in a mosaic image by reviewer Peter Lake. As 2000 EV70 was notably off its predicted position, a second night is necessary before MPC publishes an orbital update. To facilitate the acquisition of a second night, the MPC has added the object to its MPEC 2004-E11.

This object was a deliberate recovery attempt by Spacewatch. Because of the object's high uncertainty, the mosaic's large field of view was ideal for the recovery attempt. As a deliberate recovery, the the time delay between images was DRASTICALLY SHORTENED! THIS IS THE ONLY REASON THE OBJECT APPEARS IN ALL THREE PASSES! The time delay was less than 10 minutes versus the typical 40 minutes - in a normal mosaic image this object would have appeared in only one pass! In the future, we hope to add warning labels on non-standard time delay images and images that may contain a deliberate recovery.

As a 19 V magnitude object trailing a mere 10 pixels this was an difficult catch - the FMO Project website is designed to recover 14 pixel trails or longer.

Update March 02: 2000 EV70 received an orbital adjustment in MPEC 2004-E11

2004 - January 20
FMO Project Milestone: First FMO Designation (MPEC)!

SW40B1 was designated by the MPC as 2004 BV18. Congratulations to Stu Megan and to all our reviewers for helping this project achieve this notable success! Without all our images being reviewed on a regular basis, we could not achieve this goal! Click here for the press release.

2004 January 19 -
Fourth FMO Discovery

Stu Megan found this object. The object was submitted to the MPC as SW40B1.

2003 November 26 -
Third FMO Discovery

Maik Meyer and Stu Megan found this object in two separate images providing us with three positions. The object was submitted to the MPC as SW409R, unfortunately the object was accelerating rapidly and recovery the next night was not possible due to its length and faintness.
Found by Maik Meyer.
This image is a half size since object was found at the end of amplifier.
Found by Stu Megan.

2003 November 26 -
SW409M Recovered!

As SW409M was two days old, this recovery was a heroic effort by all involved (the observer that took nearly 50 square degrees of recovery images, the individuals that planned this sizeable recovery effort, the reviewers that reviewed the images produced by the recovery effort and the individuals that had to measure this very indistinct and 200+ pixel long trail!) Recovery of a object this old is HIGHLY unusual. Unfortunately, the measurements did not allow the object to MPEC as we had only one trail with indistinct endpoints. As of 2003 Nov 27 the object faded from view.

Click here for the image.

2003 November 24 -
Second FMO Discovery

Reviewer Stu Megan found a new FMO on 2003 Nov 24. Unfortunately, conditions were too cloudy for recovery on the following night. We submitted the measurements to Minor Planet Center (MPC) and it was listed as SW409M on the MPC's NEO Confirmation page. The blink image below was supplied by the auto feedback system.

Update as of 2003 Nov 26: Due to the weather preventing next day followup, SW409M was not recovered and became too uncertain for deliberate recovery. The MPC ephemeris states that the object should get brighter in the few days after discovery so the object may get rediscovered by other survey telescopes.

2003 November 21 -
FMO Project Milestone: First FMO Recovery

Stu Megan, a local FMO Project reviewer, recovered 2003 WU21 on 2003 Nov 21. Unfortunately for us, 2003 WU21 had been discovered on the previous day (Nov 20.) This blink image below is what Stu Megan saw in the auto feedback response.


This blink image is what Stu Megan saw on auto feedback response.

2003 October 25 -
FMO Project Milestone: First Recoverable FMO

Reviewer Vishu Reddy submitted the following 12 deg/day FMO on 2003 Oct 25. The three passes with the FMO in the center of each are below:

                

Unfortunately, this FMO was discovered over 8 hours after the original images were acquired, so same night followup was not possible. An object moving at these rates needs to be recovered within 4-6 hours or it becomes lost.

2003 September 30 -
Unveiling of the FMO Project volunteer website.

Through a generous contribution from the Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation, Spacewatch has introduced a volunteer program for finding fast moving objects in our mosaic imagery taken with the Kitt Peak 0.9m telescope. While the website has been available on a limited experimental basis for some time, we just opened the volunteer program to the public after the 2003 autumn equinox, the start of high season for asteroid detection.

FMO Home


[JPL] [MPC] [NASA] [NEODYS] [SOHO] [SPACEWATCH]

©Copyright 2002 Spacewatch FMO