August 26, 2007 at 8:54pm
During A79 search for MBA, three new asteroids were discovered: 2007 PQ28, 2007 PN29 and 2007 QD2 (see results).According to the current orbital elements, the bodies have a different position in the belt: 2007 PQ28 is in the central group, 2007 PN29 is an inner whereas 2007 QD2 is in the outer zone. 2007 PQ28 has a low eccentricity and there is a good opportunity to be detected on old images or linked with previous observations. The asteroids had a similar magnitude of about 19R.
Thanks to our colleagues at NAO “Rhozen” and especially to D. Dimitrov, V. Radeva and A. Stinkov for their support and additional astrometry.
Update 08/09/2007: The asteroids observations continued and the last data form 04/09 obtained by D. Dimitrov at NAO “Rhozen”(MPC code 071) significant improved the orbital elements of 2007 PQ28. Furthermore, MPC link a single night observations from 2001, 2003 and 2005 and the body become observed at 4 oppositions. With help of the precise orbit, F. Fratev found the asteroid in 2002 and 2001 on the images form NEAT project (ShyMorph archive). In this way the opposition increased to five. We need of only one two-night opposition now and the body will receive a permanent number according to IAU rules. This could be done by DSS images from 1983 or additional observations in the next opposition (December 2008). More information you can find in results page.
Below are links to the animations of 2007 PQ28 and 2007 PN29 obtained by 60 cm telescope f12/4 at MPC 071 and an archive images stack of NEAT (MPC 644).
http://forum.starrydreams.com/download.php?id=983
http://forum.starrydreams.com/download.php?id=982
http://forum.starrydreams.com/download.php?id=986
Update 07/10/2007. 2007 PQ28 was identified on the plates from 1983 (DSS). Unexpectedly, MPC found and link new observations for 2007 PN29 in 3 additional oppositions. We detected the asteroid on the NEAT images from 1996 and 2002.
2007 QD2
2007 PQ28 and 2007 PN29
2007 PN29
