------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ASTRONOMER Electronic Circular No 1721 2001 Dec 13 12.14UT Ed:Guy M Hurst, 16,Westminster Close, Kempshott Rise, Basingstoke, Hants, RG22 4PP,England.Telephone/FAX(01256)471074Int:+441256471074 INTERNET: GUY@TAHQ.DEMON.CO.UK GMH at AST.STAR.RL.AC.UK WORLD WIDE WEB http://www.theastronomer.org ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 WT24 This asteroid is making a close approach to the Earth and is unusually bright making it possible to observe in small telescopes. The latest ephemeris from the Minor Planet Center is given below and images would be welcomed. Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase V 2001 12 12 07 59.34 +14 18.2 0.025 1.004 140.6 38.5 11.6 2001 12 13 07 36.74 +18 46.6 0.021 1.002 148.1 31.3 11.0 2001 12 14 07 00.74 +25 04.5 0.017 1.000 158.2 21.5 10.3 2001 12 15 05 59.61 +33 17.8 0.014 0.998 168.0 11.8 9.5 2001 12 16 04 18.67 +40 45.0 0.013 0.996 156.4 23.3 9.7 2001 12 17 02 16.14 +41 35.6 0.013 0.993 134.3 45.1 10.4 2001 12 18 00 44.17 +36 34.3 0.015 0.991 115.5 63.7 11.3 2001 12 19 23 49.67 +30 51.5 0.019 0.988 102.2 76.7 12.1 2001 12 20 23 17.10 +26 18.9 0.023 0.985 93.0 85.7 12.9 2001 12 21 22 56.22 +22 56.3 0.027 0.982 86.3 92.1 13.5 2001 12 22 22 41.89 +20 24.8 0.032 0.979 81.3 96.9 14.1 2001 12 23 22 31.48 +18 28.9 0.037 0.976 77.3 100.6 14.5 2001 12 24 22 23.59 +16 58.0 0.041 0.973 74.0 103.7 14.9 2001 12 25 22 17.38 +15 44.8 0.046 0.970 71.2 106.2 15.3 2001 12 26 22 12.35 +14 44.5 0.051 0.966 68.7 108.5 15.6 2001 12 27 22 08.17 +13 53.9 0.056 0.962 66.5 110.5 16.0 2001 12 28 22 04.62 +13 10.6 0.061 0.959 64.4 112.3 16.2 2001 12 29 22 01.54 +12 33.0 0.066 0.955 62.5 114.0 16.5 2001 12 30 21 58.83 +11 59.7 0.071 0.951 60.8 115.5 16.8 2001 12 31 21 56.41 +11 29.9 0.076 0.947 59.1 117.0 17.0 John Fletcher, Mount Tuffley Observatory, has submitted an image of 2001 December 9 and suggests the trail may show signs of magnitude fluctuation, possibly due to the rotation of an irregularly-shaped body. It would be worth making magnitude estimates at 10 minute intervals. If the asteroid has approached the predicted magnitude for Dec 13-18, then comparison stars from Tycho with reliable magnitudes are preferred. Nick James, Chelmsford, reports that he has made a movie based on 300 frames obtained on Dec 11 over a 2.5 hour period. This can be found at: http://www.theastronomer.org/asteroids/1998wt24_20011211_ndj.mpg The download involves a file of 1.6MB but the editor found it absolutely fascinating to watch! GEMINIDS You are reminded that maximum for the Geminids in 2001 is expected around 22hUT tonight (2001 Dec 13) although continual observing through to dawn on Dec 14 is desirable. The radiant is just north of Castor and well placed. Guy M Hurst