Astronomy:Junk Bond Observatory
| Altitude | 4,425 ft (1,349 m) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1996 |
| see § List of discovered minor planets |
The Junk Bond Observatory (JBO; code: 701) is located in the Sonoran Desert at Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States.
It was established by amateur astronomer David Healy in his backyard in 1996,[2] using a Celestron 14 SCT and a 16-inch Meade LX200 telescopes in a roll-off shelter. In 2000, a 20" Ritchey-Chretien was installed, to be replaced by a 32" Ritchey in 2004.
Asteroid searches began in 1998 using a local computer network and search software. The first discovery at the observatory was made by Jeff Medkeff in June 1999. It was named 38203 Sanner after Glen Sanner also a member of the Huachuca Astronomy Club.[3]
As of November 2016, a total of 272 numbered minor planets have been discovered at the observatory, using a 32-inch telescope. The Minor Planet Center credits 219 of these discoveries to David Healy and/or Jeff Medkeff. The discovery of the remaining 53 numbered minor planets is credited directly to the observatory (see list below).[1]
Until his death in 2011, David Healy was a frequent contributor of follow-up observations to objects on the Minor Planet Center's Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page, surveyed for asteroids netting approximately four new discoveries per month as of January 2007, performed discovery and confirmation photometry of extrasolar planet transits, and performed photometry of cataclysmic variable stars and active galactic nuclei. The telescope operated robotically, unattended for most of the night, controlled by software by Bob Denny and Jeff Medkeff.
JBO was dismantled in August 2021. The telescope, dome, and other equipment were purchased by a private buyer.
List of discovered minor planets
The Minor Planet Center directly credits the Junk Bond Observatory with the discovery of 53 numbered minor planets during 2000–2005.[1]
| (145041) 2005 FJ6 | 31 March 2005 | list |
| (161574) 2005 DS | 28 February 2005 | list |
| (171241) 2005 KY11 | 30 May 2005 | list |
| (180926) 2005 LD24 | 11 June 2005 | list |
| (198492) 2004 XU62 | 10 December 2004 | list |
| (202307) 2005 DQ | 28 February 2005 | list |
| (207111) 2005 AS30 | 9 January 2005 | list |
| (214257) 2005 GP | 1 April 2005 | list |
| (215936) 2005 KQ10 | 30 May 2005 | list |
| (223988) 2005 BX1 | 16 January 2005 | list |
| (226515) 2003 UO45 | 18 October 2003 | list |
| (232900) 2004 XG51 | 14 December 2004 | list |
| (232967) 2005 EY70 | 4 March 2005 | list |
| (235910) 2005 EO25 | 3 March 2005 | list |
| (236032) 2005 GY166 | 11 April 2005 | list |
| (240615) 2004 XU49 | 13 December 2004 | list |
| (242515) 2004 YS32 | 31 December 2004 | list |
| (245312) 2005 EQ37 | 7 March 2005 | list |
| (245358) 2005 EF272 | 11 March 2005 | list |
| (250352) 2003 SA217 | 27 September 2003 | list |
| (253592) 2003 TV12 | 15 October 2003 | list |
| (253604) 2003 UE24 | 23 October 2003 | list |
| (257964) 2001 BD61 | 30 January 2001 | list |
| (259523) 2003 UA24 | 23 October 2003 | list |
| (259683) 2003 XE15 | 15 December 2003 | list |
| (267977) 2004 FY145 | 30 March 2004 | list |
| (272010) 2005 DP | 28 February 2005 | list |
| (275727) 2001 BG61 | 30 January 2001 | list |
| (277053) 2005 EO37 | 4 March 2005 | list |
| (280617) 2004 XC63 | 15 December 2004 | list |
| (280635) 2004 YO1 | 19 December 2004 | list |
| (280707) 2005 GV59 | 6 April 2005 | list |
| (287839) 2003 SY218 | 28 September 2003 | list |
| (298439) 2003 UB24 | 23 October 2003 | list |
| (299081) 2005 EK39 | 8 March 2005 | list |
| (308199) 2005 EY32 | 4 March 2005 | list |
| (311195) 2004 XZ62 | 14 December 2004 | list |
| (314162) 2005 FL8 | 21 March 2005 | list |
| (331965) 2004 XK41 | 11 December 2004 | list |
| (334977) 2004 ED52 | 15 March 2004 | list |
| (335192) 2005 EC24 | 3 March 2005 | list |
| (337309) 2000 YD125 | 29 December 2000 | list |
| (337320) 2001 BF61 | 30 January 2001 | list |
| (344969) 2004 XQ49 | 10 December 2004 | list |
| (345016) 2005 EP4 | 1 March 2005 | list |
| (345066) 2005 JR1 | 3 May 2005 | list |
| (348396) 2005 HA3 | 17 April 2005 | list |
| (351332) 2004 XH41 | 10 December 2004 | list |
| (363457) 2003 SB208 | 26 September 2003 | list |
| (370553) 2003 UD24 | 23 October 2003 | list |
| (387919) 2004 YT32 | 31 December 2004 | list |
| (427601) 2003 SC208 | 26 September 2003 | list |
| (446968) 2003 UP190 | 23 October 2003 | list |
See also
- List of asteroid-discovering observatories
- List of astronomical observatories
- List of minor planet discoverers § Discovering dedicated institutions
- List of observatory codes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 14 November 2016. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html.
- ↑ "66479 Healy (1999 RQ33)". Minor Planet Center. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=66479.
- ↑ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2006). "(38203) Sanner [2.53, 0.12, 5.9]". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (38203) Sanner, Addendum to Fifth Edition: 2003–2005. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 204–205. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-34361-5_2413. ISBN 978-3-540-34361-5.
External links
- Quick Tour of Junk Bond Observatory on YouTube (time 9:59 min.)
- Junk Bond Observatory
- Spectrashift
- The NEO Confirmation Page, Minor Planet Center
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