Looks like asteroid 596 Scheila has sprouted a spiral tail!
http://www.spaceweather.com/
Russ
Asteroid 596 Scheila's new tail...
- RussD
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2004 12:32 pm
- Real Name: Russ Durkee
- Location: Minneapolis
Asteroid 596 Scheila's new tail...
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------
- Kurt A. Casby
- Posts: 766
- Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:32 pm
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Re: Asteroid 596 Scheila's new tail...
So, what are you betting, Comet or impact?
Have there been other such discoveries that would give one a better idea of the odds?
Are you going to take a shot at this object?
Clear Skies,
Kurt
Have there been other such discoveries that would give one a better idea of the odds?
Are you going to take a shot at this object?
Clear Skies,
Kurt
Kurt A. Casby
Kurt.Casby@comcast.net
Kurt.Casby@comcast.net
- RussD
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2004 12:32 pm
- Real Name: Russ Durkee
- Location: Minneapolis
Re: Asteroid 596 Scheila's new tail...
Here is an image from last night:
[album]1651[/album]
This is a median combine of 30 minutes total with 1 minute sub frames. The asteroid moved a bit so it has a little streak to it.
The large spiral structure there is only partly real. I botched my flats creating a dark hole in the middle of the image right underneath the asteroid and a bright gradient in the larger image. So while the bright area near the asteroid is real, I am less certain about the larger spiral. It could be real, but it is more likely an unlucky artifact from my flat. I will try again on the next clear night. I am pretty sure there was frost or maybe flocking falling into the optical path.
To answer your question. It could be either. It would only take a small impact from an object a few meters across to do this. The fact is that we just dont know how many tiny sub km objects are out there and what the impact probability is. While I kind of doubt it was an impactor, it certainly could be. The object could also be a rare comet. The rotational period is known 15.8hrs. I wonder if the light curve has some clues.
Remember the man made impact on 9P/Tempel a few years ago. That object was a few feet wide and it made a similar tail. Also, there was a discovery last spring from Hubble showing a probable impact on an asteroid that created a curious X shaped tail. As usual, more data is needed to see what the likely explanation would be.
Russ
[album]1651[/album]
This is a median combine of 30 minutes total with 1 minute sub frames. The asteroid moved a bit so it has a little streak to it.
The large spiral structure there is only partly real. I botched my flats creating a dark hole in the middle of the image right underneath the asteroid and a bright gradient in the larger image. So while the bright area near the asteroid is real, I am less certain about the larger spiral. It could be real, but it is more likely an unlucky artifact from my flat. I will try again on the next clear night. I am pretty sure there was frost or maybe flocking falling into the optical path.
To answer your question. It could be either. It would only take a small impact from an object a few meters across to do this. The fact is that we just dont know how many tiny sub km objects are out there and what the impact probability is. While I kind of doubt it was an impactor, it certainly could be. The object could also be a rare comet. The rotational period is known 15.8hrs. I wonder if the light curve has some clues.
Remember the man made impact on 9P/Tempel a few years ago. That object was a few feet wide and it made a similar tail. Also, there was a discovery last spring from Hubble showing a probable impact on an asteroid that created a curious X shaped tail. As usual, more data is needed to see what the likely explanation would be.
Russ
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------
- RussD
- Posts: 671
- Joined: Wed May 19, 2004 12:32 pm
- Real Name: Russ Durkee
- Location: Minneapolis
Re: Asteroid 596 Scheila's new tail...
I reworked the image with a new flat and the results look a bit more like what others are seeing. I still have a light leak somewhere in my system, but this is looking a bit better.
[album]1652[/album]
Russ
[album]1652[/album]
Russ
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------
Shed of Science South Observatory
20" Planewave CDK
Astro-Physics 1600
FLI ML4710
Stellar Skies, Pontotoc, Tx
----------------------------------------------------