Goldstone Radar Observations Planning: Comet P/2016 BA14 (Pan-STARRS) and asteroid 2016 BC14
Comet P/2016 BA14 Pan-STARRS P/2016 BA14 was discovered by Pan-STARRS 1 on 2016 January 21. Although originally classified as an asteroid by the Minor Planet Center, subsequent observations by M. M. Knight, M. S. P. Kelley, and S. Protopapa (http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iau/cbet/004200/CBET004257.txt) revealed the presence of a short tail and thus indicate that this object is a comet. The discovery announcement listed an absolute magnitude of 19.4 that suggests a diameter within a factor of two of 420 meters. Comet nuclei are usually dark, so this object could be larger. However, the absolute magnitude estimate may have included reflections from the coma, so the diameter of the nucleus could be significantly smaller than ~400 meters. Comet 2016 BA14 will approach within 9.2 lunar distances on March 22. This is the closest known approach by a comet since at least 1999 (and possibly much longer) and one of the closest ever recorded. Only three comets are thought to have approached more closely in historical times: 55P/Tempel-Tuttle (8.9 lunar distances) in 1366, D/Lexell (5.9 lunar distances) in 1770, and P/1999 J6 SOHO (4.7 lunar distances) in 1999, although the formal uncertainties in the close approach distance by P/SOHO are considerable and its encounter may have been much more distant. Other recent close cometary approaches include C/IRAS-Araki-Alcock (12.1 lunar distances) in 1983 and 289P/Blanpain (9.7 lunar distances) in 2003. Only 18 comets have been observed by radar, most recently C/2013 UQ4 Catalina in August 2014. The orbit of P/2016 BA14 is very similar to that of comet 252P/LINEAR and has led to suggestions that the two comets may be fragments of a larger body that split many years ago. 252P/LINEAR will also closely approach Earth (at 13.9 lunar distances) on March 21 when it should be easy to see with binoculars from skies in the southern hemisphere. A few days later comet LINEAR will move far enough north for observers at mid-northern latitudes to see it. We are not planning to observe comet LINEAR at Goldstone due to the down time but radar observations might occur at Arecibo if that telescope returns to service by early April. Additional information on comets 2016 BA14 and LINEAR is available on a blog by Michael Kelley at: https://www.astro.umd.edu/~msk/blog/ Bob King at Sky and Telescope posted a detailed article with finder charts at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/p2016-ba14-closest-comet-in-almost-250-years03162016/ An official NASA/JPL press release about P/2016 BA14 and 252P/LINEAR is available at: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news191.html The physical properties of P/2016 BA14 are unknown but it is possible that the SNRs may be strong enough for delay-Doppler imaging. The uncertainties in the diameter and spin state of the nucleus are large so it is also possible that this will be a weak radar target. Observations are scheduled on March 21-23 at DSS-13 and Green Bank. Testing observations are also scheduled at DSS-14 on March 17 and 21-23. The DSS-14 downtime is still underway and a key objective will be to check the pointing. As such, the probability of success at DSS-14 is lower than usual. Observations of comet 2016 BA14 are not scheduled at Arecibo pending resumption of regular operations there. The estimated signal-to-noise ratios suggest that 2016 BA14 would be a strong radar target at Arecibo. P/2016 BA14 was originally classified by the Minor Planet Center as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid." Asteroid 2016 BC14 2016 BC14 was discovered by NASA's NEOWISE mission on 2016 January 23. This asteroid will approach within 0.025 au (~10 lunar distances) on 2016 March 29 and it will probably be a strong radar target. Thermal infrared observations from NEOWISE suggest a diameter of about 400 m (J. Masiero, pers. comm.). Lightcurves obtained by B. D. Warner indicate slow rotation with a period of roughly 28-29 h and a lightcurve amplitude of about 1 mag. Thus, it seems likely that this is an elongated object, possibly very elongated. We have scheduled observations during time on DSS-14 already scheduled for P/2016 BA14 at the end of the monostatic tracks on March 22 and 23. 2016 BC14 is on NASA's NHATS list of potential human mission targets. This object has been classified as a "Potentiall Hazardous Asteroid" by the IAU's Minor Planet Center.
Orbital and Physical Characteristics Provisional Designation P/2016 BA14 Pan-STARRS 2016 BC14 Discoverer Pan-STARRS 1 NEOWISE Discovery date 2016 Jan 21 2016 Jan 23 orbit type Comet Aten asteroid Close approach date 2016 March 22 2016 Mar 29 Close approach dist. 0.024 au 0.025 au Close approach dist. 9.2 lunar distances 9.8 lunar distances semimajor axis 3.015 au 0.871 au eccentricity 0.665 0.181 inclination 18.9 deg 8.4 deg perihelion distance 1.009 au 0.714 au aphelion distance 5.020 au 1.029 au absolute magnitude (H) 19.4 Estimated before cometary activity 21.0 diameter 0.42 km +- a factor of at least two. 400 m J. Masiero, pers. comm. optical albedo unknown unknown, but probably only a few percent rotation period unknown ~29 h B. D. Warner, pers. comm. lightcurve amplitude unknown ~1 mag B. D. Warner, pers. comm. pole direction unknown unknown Last update: 2016 March 18
2016 BA14 http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K16/K16B79.html 2016 BC14 http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K16/K16B81.html
Comet P/2016 BA14 Pan-STARRS Goldstone SNRs 2016BA14: D = 0.42 km, P = 2.2000 hr, OC albedo = 0.100 DSS14 Monostatic DSS13/GBT w DOY start date window RA, dec dist runs SNR/day SNR/run SNR/RTT 11 76 2016 Mar 16 00:15-05:34 100, -24 0.058 165 42 3 11 77 2016 Mar 17 00:05-05:59 103, -21 0.050 209 77 6 * 11 77-78 2016 Mar 17-18 23:56-06:30 107, -17 0.043 270 150 10 11 78-79 2016 Mar 18-19 23:48-07:10 111, -12 0.037 356 330 19 1.5 11 79-80 2016 Mar 19-20 23:41-08:02 118, -4 0.031 477 720 36 2.9 11 80-81 2016 Mar 20-21 23:38-09:11 126, +6 0.026 635 1500 64 * 5.1 * 12 81-82 2016 Mar 21-22 23:43-10:39 139, +20 0.024 796 2400 92 * 7.4 * 12 83 2016 Mar 23 00:03-12:23 155, +34 0.024 881 2400 88 * 7.0 * 12 84 2016 Mar 24 00:40-14:04 174, +44 0.027 849 1600 59 4.7 12 85 2016 Mar 25 01:29-15:21 192, +49 0.032 747 810 32 2.6 12 86 2016 Mar 26 02:18-16:12 206, +50 0.038 635 400 17 1.4 12 87 2016 Mar 27 02:57-16:44 216, +50 0.045 539 210 10 13 88 2016 Mar 28 03:26-17:04 223, +50 0.052 463 120 6 Goldstone SNRs assume Ptx = 450 kW and Tsys = 17 K. Arecibo SNRs start date window RA, dec dist runs SNR/day SNR/run 2016 Mar 20 23:55-01:52 125, +5 0.027 132 15000 1400 2016 Mar 22 00:09-03:00 137, +18 0.024 196 28000 2100 2016 Mar 23 01:26-03:36 152, +32 0.024 162 25000 2100 Assumptions: Ptx = 900 kW, Tsys = 25 K. Recently the transmitter power at Arecibo has closer to 600 kW. After March 23, P/2016 BA14 will move too far north for Arecibo to track. Due to its rapid motion, these are the only days when Arecibo could observe this comet. Arecibo is offline for maintenance and unable to observe this object. Asteroid 2016 BC14 Goldstone SNRs 2016BC14: D = 0.40 km, P = 29.0000 hr, OC albedo = 0.100 start date window RA, dec dist runs SNR/day SNR/run 2016 Mar 05 08:01-17:20 237, +6 0.090 187 38 3 2016 Mar 06 08:01-17:16 237, +6 0.086 193 44 3 2016 Mar 07 08:00-17:11 238, +5 0.083 200 52 4 2016 Mar 08 08:00-17:07 238, +4 0.080 206 61 5 2016 Mar 09 08:00-17:02 239, +3 0.076 214 72 5 2016 Mar 10 08:01-16:57 239, +3 0.073 221 86 6 2016 Mar 11 08:02-16:52 239, +2 0.070 229 100 7 2016 Mar 12 08:03-16:47 240, 0 0.066 238 120 9 2016 Mar 13 08:05-16:41 240, -1 0.063 246 150 10 2016 Mar 14 08:07-16:35 241, -2 0.060 256 180 12 2016 Mar 15 08:11-16:28 242, -4 0.056 265 220 15 2016 Mar 16 08:15-16:21 242, -5 0.053 275 280 18 2016 Mar 17 08:20-16:14 243, -7 0.050 284 350 23 2016 Mar 18 08:27-16:05 244, -9 0.047 292 430 28 2016 Mar 19 08:36-15:55 245, -12 0.044 299 550 35 2016 Mar 20 08:47-15:44 246, -14 0.041 304 680 43 2016 Mar 21 09:02-15:30 247, -17 0.038 303 850 53 2016 Mar 22 09:23-15:12 248, -21 0.036 293 1000 65 * 2016 Mar 23 09:52-14:48 250, -25 0.033 267 1200 78 * 2016 Mar 24 10:37-14:10 252, -30 0.031 205 1300 91 After March 24, this object will move too far south for Goldstone to track. Arecibo SNRs start date window RA, dec dist runs SNR/day SNR/run 2016 Feb 15 08:50-11:29 230, +14 0.152 31 60 11 2016 Feb 16 08:48-11:26 231, +13 0.149 32 65 12 2016 Feb 17 08:46-11:23 231, +13 0.146 32 71 13 2016 Feb 18 08:43-11:20 231, +13 0.143 33 77 14 2016 Feb 19 08:41-11:17 232, +13 0.140 33 84 15 2016 Feb 20 08:39-11:14 232, +12 0.136 34 92 16 2016 Feb 21 08:37-11:11 232, +12 0.133 35 100 18 2016 Feb 22 08:35-11:08 233, +12 0.130 35 110 19 2016 Feb 23 08:32-11:05 233, +11 0.127 36 120 21 2016 Feb 24 08:30-11:02 233, +11 0.123 36 130 23 2016 Feb 25 08:28-10:58 234, +11 0.120 37 150 25 2016 Feb 26 08:27-10:55 234, +10 0.117 38 170 28 2016 Feb 27 08:25-10:52 234, +10 0.114 39 180 31 2016 Feb 28 08:23-10:48 235, +10 0.110 39 210 35 2016 Feb 29 08:22-10:45 235, +9 0.107 40 230 38 2016 Mar 01 08:20-10:41 235, +9 0.104 41 260 43 2016 Mar 02 08:19-10:37 236, +8 0.100 41 290 48 2016 Mar 03 08:18-10:33 236, +8 0.097 42 330 54 2016 Mar 04 08:17-10:29 236, +7 0.094 42 380 62 2016 Mar 05 08:16-10:25 237, +6 0.090 43 430 70 2016 Mar 06 08:16-10:21 237, +6 0.087 43 490 80 2016 Mar 07 08:16-10:16 238, +5 0.083 43 560 92 2016 Mar 08 08:17-10:10 238, +4 0.080 43 630 110 2016 Mar 09 08:18-10:05 238, +4 0.077 42 710 120 2016 Mar 10 08:20-09:58 239, +3 0.073 40 770 140 2016 Mar 11 08:24-09:50 239, +2 0.070 37 820 150 2016 Mar 12 08:30-09:40 240, +1 0.067 31 830 160 2016 Mar 13 08:40-09:26 240, -1 0.063 21 730 160 Arecibo is offline for maintenance and unable to observe this object.
Track Assignments
Goldstone Schedule UT UT PDT Round-trip DOY Date Target TX Window TX Window time (sec) SNR/RTT 77 Mar 17 DSS-14 P/2016 BA14 0015-0600 1715-2300 Mar 16 50 6 Monostatic testing 81 Mar 21 DSS-13 P/2016 BA14 0005-0350 1705-2050 Mar 20 26 5 Green Bank; C-band DSS-14 P/2016 BA14 0350-0910 2050-0210 Mar 20-21 26 64 Monostatic testing 82 Mar 22 DSS-13 P/2016 BA14 2350-0500 1650-2100 Mar 21 24 7 Green Bank; C-band DSS-14 P/2016 BA14 0500-1035 2100-0335 Mar 21-22 24 92 Monostatic testing DSS-14 2016 BC14 0925-1035 0225-0335 Mar 22 33 65 Monostatic testing 83 Mar 23 DSS-13 P/2016 BA14 0025-0535 1725-2235 Mar 22 24 7 Green Bank; C-band DSS-14 P/2016 BA14 0535-1220 2235-0520 Mar 22-23 24 88 Monostatic testing DSS-14 2016 BC14 0955-1220 0255-0520 Mar 23 33 78 Monostatic testing
Uncertainties
P/2016 BA14 JPL/Horizons solution 30, # obs: 84 (2015-2016): (2016 Mar 18) This solution include 3 ranges and 2 Dopplers from March 17 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 102.73627 -21.20767 0.05135239461533 1.787 0.37 1.36 0.000003 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 106.14551 -17.65365 0.04436235427112 2.169 0.45 1.63 0.000013 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 110.59316 -12.73002 0.03778599439873 2.669 0.85 3.10 0.000034 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 116.54303 -5.75358 0.03189195891046 3.296 1.59 5.80 0.000076 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 124.67936 4.08374 0.02713970406239 3.957 2.61 9.47 0.000150 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 135.88212 16.95102 0.02422055100596 4.319 3.41 12.38 0.000259 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 150.79552 30.76688 0.02382474656929 4.007 3.19 11.60 0.000378 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 168.62550 41.59866 0.02607050936003 3.261 2.23 8.11 0.000473 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 186.44481 47.57327 0.03037778460560 2.614 1.45 5.28 0.000533 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 201.33237 49.85854 0.03601279869624 2.191 1.06 3.86 0.000572 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 212.50300 50.23558 0.04244735463475 1.914 0.89 3.24 0.000603 - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 20 # obs: 79 (2015-2016) (2016 Mar 9) Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 102.73640 -21.20748 0.05135151487881 8.662 6.00 21.82 0.009313 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 106.14568 -17.65339 0.04436153989267 13.116 8.70 31.61 0.009064 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 110.59341 -12.72965 0.03778525451528 20.330 14.29 51.92 0.008661 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 116.54339 -5.75304 0.03189131062962 31.934 25.46 92.52 0.007955 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 124.67990 4.08452 0.02713917753249 49.100 45.40 165.01 0.006689 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 135.88291 16.95201 0.02422018726068 68.322 70.72 257.04 0.004579 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 150.79659 30.76786 0.02382456847489 77.908 81.98 297.95 0.001785 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 168.62677 41.59936 0.02607048653022 71.488 68.32 248.30 0.001135 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 186.44604 47.57365 0.03037785466260 57.626 46.45 168.83 0.003104 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 201.33340 49.85871 0.03601290762452 44.711 29.46 107.06 0.004411 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 212.50380 50.23565 0.04244746737216 34.973 18.64 67.73 0.005230 - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 10 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 102.73613 -21.21059 0.05136602753446 28.984 18.33 66.63 0.033205 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 106.14459 -17.65804 0.04437576256690 42.871 26.91 97.79 0.032491 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 110.59092 -12.73681 0.03779898128010 66.322 44.81 162.86 0.031291 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 116.53852 -5.76430 0.03190412211608 105.361 81.52 296.30 0.029115 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 124.67098 4.06717 0.02715026103419 165.026 149.24 542.39 0.025065 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 135.86751 16.92816 0.02422825792689 234.700 238.78 867.82 0.018093 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 150.77251 30.74221 0.02382846080384 273.805 283.68 1031.03 0.008598 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 168.59513 41.57918 0.02607020683761 256.922 241.45 877.56 0.002502 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 186.41255 47.56137 0.03037441603520 211.516 167.05 607.14 0.008736 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 201.30332 49.85232 0.03600739225430 167.357 107.37 390.23 0.013366 - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 2 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 102.40919 -21.82968 0.05456268343654 5020.290 6223.51 22619.04 6.867468 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 105.63388 -18.55884 0.04743589068277 7551.647 7451.98 27083.88 6.654422 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 109.79139 -14.08693 0.04068452776251 11635.384 10115.57 36764.56 6.361168 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 115.27776 -7.82753 0.03454118760560 18217.373 15746.56 57230.14 5.909891 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 122.67364 0.96479 0.02940090707129 28240.392 26468.45 96198.37 5.158134 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 132.74752 12.71010 0.02587865127280 40737.398 42054.90 152846.60 3.916687 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 146.19579 26.17837 0.02468467465272 49796.041 53182.80 193290.43 2.159922 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 162.76780 37.96136 0.02614409123605 49141.630 48823.20 177445.66 0.369420 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 180.31276 45.39625 0.02987162165028 41486.483 35085.31 127515.95 1.276833 Asteroid 2016 BC14 JPL/Horizons solution 30, # obs: 193 (55 days), OCC = 5 (2016 Mar 18) Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-15 00:00 *m 241.29982 -2.75283 0.05815503095487 0.317 17.36 63.09 0.010962 2016-Mar-16 00:00 *m 241.92976 -4.31917 0.05494469572355 0.356 17.12 62.23 0.010338 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 242.62063 -6.07688 0.05178172198419 0.415 16.83 61.18 0.009723 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 243.38644 -8.05895 0.04867617840789 0.502 16.48 59.90 0.009120 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 244.24519 -10.30491 0.04564050950451 0.624 16.05 58.33 0.008532 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 245.22040 -12.86173 0.04269024879605 0.793 15.51 56.39 0.007961 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 246.34346 -15.78453 0.03984491832001 1.018 14.85 53.98 0.007411 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 247.65706 -19.13628 0.03712912855012 1.315 14.03 50.98 0.006889 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 249.22075 -22.98552 0.03457384124196 1.697 13.00 47.23 0.006399 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 251.11987 -27.40016 0.03221763955342 2.179 11.72 42.58 0.005951 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 253.48046 -32.43449 0.03010762245802 2.771 10.14 36.87 0.005554 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 256.49519 -38.10578 0.02829918234677 3.466 8.25 30.00 0.005220 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 260.46916 -44.35765 0.02685353272306 4.233 6.08 22.09 0.004960 - - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 22, OCC = 5 (2016 Mar 9) Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-15 00:00 *m 241.29994 -2.75320 0.05816275896339 3.140 34.10 123.95 0.018220 2016-Mar-16 00:00 *m 241.92991 -4.31962 0.05495186660432 3.855 33.48 121.70 0.017010 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 242.62082 -6.07743 0.05178834788443 4.732 32.72 118.91 0.015826 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 243.38668 -8.05963 0.04868227442325 5.812 31.77 115.45 0.014675 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 244.24549 -10.30574 0.04564609450642 7.143 30.58 111.14 0.013562 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 245.22080 -12.86276 0.04269534652210 8.789 29.09 105.74 0.012497 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 246.34397 -15.78579 0.03984955879801 10.822 27.22 98.94 0.011492 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 247.65772 -19.13783 0.03713334992123 13.325 24.88 90.41 0.010559 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 249.22160 -22.98741 0.03457769200558 16.380 21.95 79.78 0.009716 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 251.12099 -27.40246 0.03222118113349 20.050 18.39 66.84 0.008983 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 253.48197 -32.43726 0.03011093172533 24.339 14.30 51.98 0.008386 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 256.49725 -38.10905 0.02830235327572 29.135 10.42 37.86 0.007955 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 260.47206 -44.36138 0.02685667580238 34.139 9.18 33.38 0.007726 - - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 4 OCC = 8 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-15 00:00 *m 241.31194 -2.76445 0.05813883018684 630.284 918.72 3339.03 0.185727 2016-Mar-16 00:00 *m 241.94350 -4.33267 0.05492735950263 728.929 874.85 3179.59 0.158483 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 242.63629 -6.09262 0.05176337885925 845.902 820.57 2982.32 0.134814 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 243.40436 -8.07737 0.04865698924254 985.210 753.02 2736.82 0.115700 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 244.26581 -10.32653 0.04562067703206 1151.712 668.60 2429.99 0.101986 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 245.24431 -12.88719 0.04267003005867 1351.165 563.03 2046.32 0.093768 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 246.37141 -15.81457 0.03982464056807 1590.089 432.39 1571.51 0.089775 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 247.69005 -19.17172 0.03710920885259 1875.275 279.58 1016.12 0.087479 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 249.26015 -23.02724 0.03455480908013 2212.570 174.96 635.87 0.083938 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 251.16761 -27.44896 0.03220015944035 2604.469 333.62 1212.52 0.076768 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 253.53932 -32.49083 0.03009250942867 3046.019 645.67 2346.67 0.065689 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 256.56931 -38.16936 0.02828739691496 3519.106 1027.28 3733.62 0.057576 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 260.56487 -44.42674 0.02684613615166 3986.993 1444.34 5249.37 0.072331 - - - - - - - - - - JPL/Horizons solution 3 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta POS_3sigma DOP_S_3sig DOP_X_3sig RT_delay_3sig 2016-Mar-15 00:00 *m 241.39997 -2.87474 0.05819416485281 3483.794 2779.88 10103.35 0.553065 2016-Mar-16 00:00 *m 242.04430 -4.46058 0.05496088351524 3996.015 2576.76 9365.11 0.596519 2016-Mar-17 00:00 *m 242.75217 -6.24151 0.05177643654839 4600.170 2326.44 8455.32 0.646117 2016-Mar-18 00:00 *m 243.53825 -8.25132 0.04865125764312 5315.841 2017.19 7331.40 0.695757 2016-Mar-19 00:00 *m 244.42143 -10.53048 0.04559826261482 6166.583 1637.05 5949.80 0.739914 2016-Mar-20 00:00 *m 245.42647 -13.12704 0.04263359465593 7179.959 1184.29 4304.23 0.773219 2016-Mar-21 00:00 *m 246.58644 -16.09727 0.03977756245814 8386.614 742.69 2699.26 0.789993 2016-Mar-22 00:00 * 247.94650 -19.50514 0.03705578187698 9817.364 840.87 3056.10 0.783840 2016-Mar-23 00:00 * 249.56981 -23.41970 0.03450047318816 11496.568 1690.41 6143.73 0.747404 2016-Mar-24 00:00 * 251.54715 -27.90809 0.03215173432130 13429.411 2919.78 10611.79 0.672468 2016-Mar-25 00:00 * 254.01309 -33.02129 0.03005836192705 15581.016 4438.18 16130.35 0.550973 2016-Mar-26 00:00 * 257.17393 -38.76880 0.02827741212267 17848.755 6181.64 22466.87 0.379246 2016-Mar-27 00:00 * 261.35713 -45.07985 0.02687130672029 20038.658 8015.63 29132.42 0.190182 ********************************************************************************************** Apparent Magnitudes, Solar Elongations, Lunar Elongations, and Lunar Illumination: P/2016 BA14 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta T-mag N-mag S-O-T /r T-O-M/Illu% 2016-Mar-10 00:00 91.56230 -31.36013 0.10410848696190 15.67 21.62 97.1504 /T 88.9/ 1.3 2016-Mar-11 00:00 92.44686 -30.62560 0.09643480716106 15.49 21.46 97.4413 /T 79.9/ 5.5 2016-Mar-12 00:00 93.47944 -29.75537 0.08877365193541 15.31 21.28 97.8698 /T 71.0/ 12.3 2016-Mar-13 00:00 94.69593 -28.70980 0.08113843370763 15.11 21.07 98.4731 /T 62.6/ 21.1 2016-Mar-14 00:00 96.14483 -27.43270 0.07354742519615 14.89 20.85 99.3029 /T 55.1/ 31.4 2016-Mar-15 00:00 97.89306 -25.84254 0.06602641073065 14.66 20.59 100.4322 /T 48.6/ 42.3 2016-Mar-16 00:00 100.03501 -23.81770 0.05861321201761 14.40 20.30 101.9672 /T 43.3/ 53.3 2016-Mar-17 00:00 102.70711 -21.17194 0.05136572433580 14.11 19.97 104.0640 /T 39.1/ 63.8 2016-Mar-18 00:00 106.11114 -17.61388 0.04437669411354 13.80 19.57 106.9543 /T 35.9/ 73.5 2016-Mar-19 00:00 110.55165 -12.68593 0.03780144081149 13.45 19.12 110.9695 /T 33.4/ 81.9 2016-Mar-20 00:00 116.49163 -5.70558 0.03190849063567 13.09 18.60 116.5119 /T 31.3/ 88.9 2016-Mar-21 00:00 124.61451 4.13385 0.02715691345714 12.75 18.04 123.7459 /T 30.1/ 94.3 2016-Mar-22 00:00 135.80071 17.00053 0.02423720421180 12.51 17.57 131.4830 /T 32.1/ 98.0 2016-Mar-23 00:00 150.69938 30.81621 0.02383886256426 12.48 17.41 136.0012 /T 38.9/ 99.8 2016-Mar-24 00:00 168.52739 41.65170 0.02608071714515 12.69 17.64 134.7685 /T 47.7/ 99.8 2016-Mar-25 00:00 186.36219 47.62948 0.03038413689775 13.03 18.10 130.4437 /L 54.9/ 98.0 2016-Mar-26 00:00 201.27202 49.91351 0.03601604892786 13.41 18.59 126.0157 /L 59.8/ 94.5 2016-Mar-27 00:00 212.46126 50.28629 0.04244826335211 13.79 19.05 122.4391 /L 63.3/ 89.4 2016-Mar-28 00:00 220.57533 49.86508 0.04936552893435 14.13 19.45 119.7355 /L 65.9/ 82.8 2016-Mar-29 00:00 226.49570 49.17283 0.05658637047610 14.44 19.80 117.7241 /L 68.5/ 75.1 2016-Mar-30 00:00 230.90757 48.42671 0.06400397396753 14.73 20.11 116.2298 /L 71.3/ 66.2 2016-Mar-31 00:00 234.27535 47.71013 0.07155288462429 14.99 20.38 115.1194 /L 74.7/ 56.6 Asteroid 2016 BC14 Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A._(a-appar)_DEC. delta APmag S-O-T /r T-O-M/Illu% 2016-Mar-15 00:00 241.30298 -2.73027 0.05811925265213 17.07 113.8077 /L 160.0/ 42.3 2016-Mar-16 00:00 241.93288 -4.29632 0.05490828632202 16.94 114.0257 /L 149.7/ 53.3 2016-Mar-17 00:00 242.62375 -6.05388 0.05174464334517 16.81 114.1706 /L 138.5/ 63.8 2016-Mar-18 00:00 243.38961 -8.03601 0.04863839316133 16.68 114.2222 /L 127.2/ 73.5 2016-Mar-19 00:00 244.24848 -10.28232 0.04560198418416 16.54 114.1542 /L 115.9/ 81.9 2016-Mar-20 00:00 245.22395 -12.83992 0.04265095900001 16.41 113.9326 /L 104.9/ 88.9 2016-Mar-21 00:00 246.34743 -15.76407 0.03980485694714 16.27 113.5139 /L 94.1/ 94.3 2016-Mar-22 00:00 247.66172 -19.11797 0.03708831853704 16.14 112.8425 /L 83.6/ 98.0 2016-Mar-23 00:00 249.22651 -22.97042 0.03453235448585 16.02 111.8502 /L 73.6/ 99.8 2016-Mar-24 00:00 251.12737 -27.38965 0.03217562341204 15.91 110.4567 /L 64.3/ 99.8 2016-Mar-25 00:00 253.49078 -32.43021 0.03006533343425 15.82 108.5753 /L 56.0/ 98.0 2016-Mar-26 00:00 256.51010 -38.10949 0.02825702185437 15.76 106.1268 /L 49.3/ 94.5 2016-Mar-27 00:00 260.49177 -44.37082 0.02681207129514 15.75 103.0635 /L 45.1/ 89.4 2016-Mar-28 00:00 265.93760 -51.03426 0.02579177319418 15.79 99.4006 /L 43.8/ 82.8 2016-Mar-29 00:00 273.68127 -57.74109 0.02524773779025 15.89 95.2420 /L 45.4/ 75.1 2016-Mar-30 00:00 285.03602 -63.89905 0.02521081279692 16.06 90.7798 /L 49.0/ 66.2 2016-Mar-31 00:00 301.52106 -68.65046 0.02568310444279 16.28 86.2558 /L 53.4/ 56.6 2016-Apr-01 00:00 322.86220 -71.04216 0.02663739122553 16.55 81.9003 /L 57.5/ 46.4 2016-Apr-02 00:00 344.47599 -70.73462 0.02802427492995 16.84 77.8805 /L 60.6/ 36.0 2016-Apr-03 00:00 1.46016 -68.48229 0.02978314632868 17.15 74.2825 /L 62.4/ 25.9 2016-Apr-04 00:00 13.20209 -65.34940 0.03185218850479 17.46 71.1236 /L 62.9/ 16.7 2016-Apr-05 00:00 21.17713 -62.02149 0.03417486415572 17.76 68.3764 /T 62.5/ 8.9 2016-Apr-06 00:00 26.74295 -58.81866 0.03670283583392 18.05 65.9921 /T 61.6/ 3.3 2016-Apr-07 00:00 30.77210 -55.86338 0.03939645088581 18.33 63.9162 /T 60.8/ 0.4 2016-Apr-08 00:00 33.79006 -53.18669 0.04222397246512 18.59 62.0967 /T 60.9/ 0.5 2016-Apr-09 00:00 36.11684 -50.78019 0.04516035569990 18.83 60.4881 /T 62.3/ 3.7 2016-Apr-10 00:00 37.95367 -48.62005 0.04818598999574 19.06 59.0522 /T 65.2/ 9.6
Setups
We know very little about the physical properties of this comet, so we're going to start with one of our regular CW setups in the hope of seeing an echo quickly. We should see a narrow echo from the nucleus and may also see a much broader bandwidth echo from the coma. CW setup: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TX polarization RCP RCV polarization LCP & RCP Frequency hops: no hopping Bandwidth: 10000 Hz TXoffset +1000 Hz <-- Note the larger than usual offset Sampling interval: 1000 x 0.1 usec FFT for PFS files: 1000 for 10 Hz resolution Ranging setups: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10-usec baud 10 usec code 127 PRP 1270 usec FFT 128 ncoh 1 bandwidth 787 Hz resolution 12.3 Hz TXOFF +100 Hz (echo in column 32 + 8 = 40) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11-usec baud 11 usec code 127 PRP 1397 usec FFT 64 ncoh 1 bandwidth 716 Hz resolution 11.2 Hz TXOFF +100 Hz (echo in column 32 + 9 = 41) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-usec baud 1 usec code 255 FFT 512 ncoh 16 bandwidth 245 Hz resolution 0.48 Hz TXOFF +50 Hz ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions
NOTE: Data should be moved to the appropriate subdirectories in aardvark:/export/data0/2016ba14/raw/
POINTING:
OSOD and predicts will be on aardvark: ...not available yet... POINTING TX Offsets Date (UTC) DOY hhmmss RA Dec Macro LHA Dec RTT OSOD ... not available yet... Transmit offsets are given in millidegrees.
PRDX.OUT.14f-14-14.?? TRANSMITTER: STATION #14, RECEIVER: STATION #14 RECEIVER U.T. RANGE DOPPLER LHA DEC RA EL
GOLDSTONE MASTERLOG
============================================================================== Receive TX Setup hops dwell code ncoh FFT runs start -stop OSOD offset Poln Notes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Lance A. M. Benner | PHONE: (818) 354-7412 Mail Stop 183-601 | FAX: (818) 393-4445 Jet Propulsion Laboratory | email: lance.benner@jpl.nasa.gov California Institute of Technology | Plan: To live long and prosper Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/2016BA14/2016BA14_planning.html
Asteroid Radar Astronomy