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 Moves On!
Desert Moon Observatory has been suffering through the
desert southwest monsoon season. In addition, the Right
Ascension drive which compensates for the rotation of the
Earth, is malfunctioning. We are working to complete repairs to
the telescope before the end of the monsoon season so we can
return to our program of astrometric observation.
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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 06/21/2009:
16,426
NEO Observations Through 06/21/2009:
9,843
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Minor Planet Discovery
List
(111558) Barrett (2002 AZ)
(205698) 2002 AO3
(55561) Madenberg (2002 AF9)
(126749) Johnjones (2002 DQ1)
2002 DX2
(89903) Post (2002 DL3)
(215398) 2002 DH4
(203602) 2002 ED
2002 EW153
2002 XS59
(90138) Diehl (2002 YD)
2003 AZ80
(143575) 2003 EB60
(213783) 2003 FF
2003 FG1
2003 FQ7
2003 FR7
(128065) Bartbenjamin (2003 OK)
2003 WW2
(206579) 2003 WX2
(174764) 2003 WK25
(133807) 2003 WQ152
2004 AA
2004 RD109
2004 RK111
2004 WK9
2004 XQ5
2004 XU16
(216023) 2005 VH
2005 VH7
2005 XE5
2005 XL8
2005 XM8
2006 AR
2006 AS
(178079) 2005 SJ131
(214716) 2006 TD8
2006 TA10
2006 UG
2006 UC62
2006 UB217
2006 WL27
(214854) 2006 WF185
2006 YA13
2007 DB41
2007 DF61
2007 HM4
2007 HA88
2007 JF21
2007 RS19
2008 CX70
2008 EC
2008 EF68
2008 GD2
2008 SC149
2008 ST151
2008 SV151
2008 TM
2008 TK10
2008 UA1
2008 UM2
2008 UV4
2008 UR90
2008 UQ199
2008 UR199
2008 VY14
2008 VX14
2008 WV2
2009 BK10
Co-Discovery List
Janet (with David Dixon,
MPC 715):
(60186)
Las Cruces (1999 VH22)
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Lost Discovery
List
2002 EF8 was linked with (40430) 1999
RL28
2002 DM3 was linked with (156507) 2002 CH166
2002 HE12
2002 X93Y was linked with (90138) 2002 YD
2003 BK85 was linked with 2003 AF5
2003 FD9 was linked with (178667) 2000 QW137
2003 FE9 was linked with (190819) 2001 SP14
2004 VU14 was linked with 1999 XA66
2004 WT12 was linked with (162518) 2000 QR108
2004 XT14 was linked to 2007 HT33
2005 XO27 was linked to (187645) 2007 DB1
2006 TV7 was linked with 2001 SK121
2007 TZ73 was linked with 2006 KL29
2008 SU151 was linked with 2002 GH121
2008 UU199 was linked with (207646) 2007 HJ50
2008 YM24 was linked with 2004 RG5
(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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