Of zero observational interest, but perhaps some celestial mechanics interest,
is the fact that 2011 CQ1 will transit the sun shortly after its close approach.
Based on astrometry up to MPEC 2011-C14, its "centre line" will start to cross
the earth at Feb. 4.831 UT around N11 E160, with mid-transit at Feb 4.844 (S24
W125; south Pacific) and ending at Feb 04.858 (S29 W30).
With an angular diameter of 0.3" or so, it won't be the same as trying to see an
ISS transit.
Of zero observational interest, but perhaps some celestial mechanics interest, is the fact that 2011 CQ1 will transit the sun shortly after its close approach....
Hi Andrew, At 0.3", that's awfully close to being detectable by a large aperture solar telescope. Perhaps someone should alert Big Bear Solar Observatory of...
Hi again, Actually, the angular size is quite a bit smaller than 0.3". Even at closest approach (~11850 km) assuming a 3-meter size, it will only subtend...
Ahh, good point -- the transit is only going to occur for a ~100-km wide swath across the sunlit side of the earth... It would have been shear luck if Big Bear...
... It will be about 5400 km away _from the subEarth point_ (i.e., on the Earth's surface) at closest approach, so I would assume that the entire Earth would...
Hi Marshall, Andrew has supplied three coordinates on the centerline: First contact: Feb 4.831 UT 11N, 160E (west of the Marshall Islands, near Enewetak) ...
All, In the event that someone can still track it, this could offer a good opportunity to measure the distance using parallax. Obviously that requires a fair...
Lance Benner
lance@...
Feb 4, 2011 7:17 pm
The only way to see if such a small object transiting the sun can be seen is to observe the event. Yes it very small, but contrast is high, and the object is...
... The way to do this is to set the coordination up in advance. I suspect that, as more NEOs are found, there will be more solar transits, so there should be...
... I don't think NEO transits are extremely rare... but those close enough to be observed almost certainly are. (One reason it'd be hard for me to believe...
Hi Edgardo Minniti claimed that he accompanied by his sons Dante and Horacio, observed from Argentina the transit by projection of a point object in front of...
Tabare Gallardo
gallardo@...
Feb 4, 2011 11:34 pm
Hi Tabare, ... It occurs to me that the odds of spotting an artificial satellite in this manner are _much_ greater than those of spotting an asteroid. Which ...
For three years I was involved in a site survey for a new technology solar telescope, and I lived on the grounds of National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, New...
An issue that has not been mentioned on this thread is that of solar irradiation. It used to be the case that there was a difference in the adopted angular...
Turns out, I know staff at Big Bear, and I immediately called them. The big new telescope there is not running today, unfortuantely, so I did not have the...
Although this is a tiny body, it might help provide an explanation for the transits of "Vulcan" during the 19th century. I think Joseph Ashbrook was the first...
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