Bagnall Beach Observatory

MPC Observatory Code 433

While doing some routine astrometric follow-up of a known asteroid, I chanced upon a previously unknown asteroid which was given the provisional designation of 2001 FP127. Once such a discovery is made it must be followed up on four oppositions with further astrometry. In the process of doing follow-up on this newly discovered asteroid the following year, I chanced upon two more previously undiscovered asteroids which were given provisional designations of 2002 QL17 and 2002 RA01.

All three asteroids are in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter. All three asteroids have now been officially numbered.  2002 QL17 has been given the number 112835. 2001 FP127 has been given the number 124033 and 2002 RA01 has been given the number 191213. For discovery details from an official source, cut and paste these designations:

112835

124033

191213

into the entry window on the web page here and click on “Get ephemerides”.

The location of the three asteroids as at 5th May, 2004 is shown in the image alongside (made in Software Bisque’s TheSky6 software). Note that the major planets orbit close to the plane of the “ecliptic”. However, these minor planets are more highly inclined. At this point in time they can barely be seen in the southern hemisphere, but as they continue in their orbits, the situation is reversed.

While astrometry of asteroids has its place in discovery and follow-up, my next challenge is photometry of asteroids, in order to establish their light-curves.

Discovery of

124033, 112835 & 191213