Desert Moon Observatory (Minor Planet Center #448) is a roll-out
observatory with an 12-inch (0.3 m) LX-200 with an AP-7B CCD camera.
The telescope is controlled through an umbilical to a computer in
the garage. That computer is, in turn, connected via wireless Ethernet
to the main computer in the house.
The co-directors of the Observatory are Bert and Janet Stevens.
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Desert Moon Observatory Makes 10,000!
Desert Moon Observatory reported its 10,000th astrometric observation
to the Minor Planet Center on February 22, 2007. Shortly thereafter,
on March 11, 2007, we submitted our 6,000th NEA observation.
C/2006 M4 (SWAN) imaged from Desert Moon Observatory on 2006-11-03
around 02h U.T.
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| Our first reported astrometric observation
was on October 15, 2001 of (5587) 1990 SB. We also made a confirmation
observation of comet C/2002 F1 (Utsunomiya). |
Total Observations Through 03/20/2007:
10,306
NEO Observations Through 03/20/2007:
6,083
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Minor Planet Discovery List
(111558) Barrett (2002 AZ)
2002 AO3
(55561) Madenberg (2002 AF9)
(126749) Johnjones (2002 DQ1)
2002 DX2
(89903) Post (2002 DL3)
2002 DH4
2002 ED
2002 EW153
2002 XS59
(90138) Diehl (2002 YD)
2003 AZ80
(143575) 2003 EB60
2003 FF
2003 FG1
2003 FQ7
2003 FR7
(128065) 2003 OK
2003 WW2
2003 WX2
2003 WK25
(133807) 2003 WQ152
2004 AA
2004 RD109
2004 RK111
2004 WK9
2004 XQ5
2004 XT14
2004 XU16
2005 VH
2005 VH7
2005 XE5
2005 XL8
2005 XM8
2005 XO27
2006 AR
2006 AS
2005 SJ131
2006 TD8
2006 TA10
2006 UG
2006 UC62
2006 UB217
2006 WL27
2006 WF185
2006 YA13
2007 DB41
2007 DF61
Co-Discovery List
Janet (with David Dixon, MPC
715):
(60186)
Las Cruces (1999 VH22)
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Lost Discovery List
2002 EF8 designated as (40430) 1999 RL28
2002 DM3 designated as 2002 CH166
2002 HE12
2002 X93Y designated as 2002 YD
2003 BK85 designated as 2003 AF5
2003 FD9 designated as 2000 QW137
2003 FE9 designated as 2001 SP14
2004 VU14 linked with 1999 XA66
2006 TV7 linked with 2001 SK121
(These are not lost, but the discovery, for
one reason or another, has been credited to another observatory.
This is known as "bad luck".)
M66, a stack of images taken during
spare time at the end of an imaging run. This spare time occurs
when a night's run of minor planets completes, but twilight has
not started. East is left and north is up.
Minor Planet Named for Desert Moon Observatory Director!
David Dixon, Director of Jornada Observatory (MPC 715) has named
Minor Planet 38540 as "Stevens". In his citation, Director
Dixon says, "Berton L. Stevens (b. 1951) is an amateur astronomer
at the Desert Moon Observatory, Las Cruces, New Mexico. His dedicated
work in follow-up and confirmation astrometry of comets and NEAs
has made Desert Moon and amateur observatory of significance; his
efforts and contribution are commendable."
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