1996 MB = (29391) Knight 1996 MC Originally 1981 WC, now permanently numbered asteroid 7992 1996 NR 1996 PL1 Now 6809 P-L
UT Discovery Date: 03:54 UT, June 17, 1996
Our Initial Designation: FBAC06
Discoverers: Dennis Borgman, Bill Dillon, Randy Pepper, Keith Rivich
Our Astrometry
Orbital Elements
Next Oppositions: April 6, 2000 (mag 18.9), Sep 2001 (mag ~19)
Next Opposition Ephemeris
Comments: Our first discovery and a double discovery, as 1996 MB and MC were on the same CCD frame! The frame was the third in our search area. It made for a memorable Father's Day!
Epilog: We tried several times to recover MB on its next opposition in 1997, but it was beyond our capabilities at the time. In April of 2000, someone recovered it. Before it was linked to our discovery, it was known as 2000 GA29. We hold the primary designation.
In 2001, MB became our 4th permanently numbered asteroid, number 29391. In December of 2001, we submitted a name citation to the IAU's Committee for Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN). In February of 2002, the CSBN approved of the name, and now 1996 MB is (29391) Knight, after Kent Knight, a past FBAC president who inspired us with his dedication to public outreach.
1996 MC (Primary designation 1981 WC, now 7992)
UT Discovery Date: 03:54 UT, June 17, 1996
Our Initial Designation: FBAC05
Discoverers: Dennis Borgman, Bill Dillon, Randy Pepper, Keith Rivich
Our Astrometry
Orbital Elements
Next Opposition: Feb 8, 1999 (mag 18.1)
Current Ephemeris
Comments: Part of the double discovery with 1996 MB. After our observed arc reached seven days, the MPC identified our discovery with 1981 WC, an asteroid discovered in November of 1981 by a Mr. Furuta, an amateur astronomer from Japan. His asteroid was well observed when first discovered, but no one appears to have observed it for the next fifteen years. His asteroid was considered "lost". We recovered his asteroid more than a degree from it's predicted position. Mr. Furuta will get to name this asteroid eventually, and is the true discoverer, but we'll keep it in our discovery tally, because at the time, it was our discovery!
We intend to keep observing this asteroid, and help Mr. Furuta meet the criteria needed to assign a permanent number and name to this asteroid. In a sense, it's our baby too!
Epilog: On July 4, 1997, we recovered WC in the pre-dawn darkness, about an arc-minute from its predicted position. We continued to track it for the next five months, and have even determined a preliminary rotation period of ~4.8 hours. The after our 1997 recovery, the MPC found another observation
between 1996 and 1981, making WC a four opposition asteroid. In November of 1997, we were delighted to learn that WC had become a permanently numbered asteroid: 7992.
UT Discovery Date: 06:37 July 14, 1996
Our Initial Designation: FBAC07
Discoverers: Bill Dillon, Randy Pepper, Keith Rivich
Our Astrometry
Orbital Elements
Next Oppositions: [Nov 11, 1997] (mag 20.2), Dec 30, 1999 (mag 19.1), April-May 2001 (mag 17.5)
Next Opposition Ephemeris
Comments: When we began what was to be the discovery image, the classical music station we were listening to began playing Holst's The Planets. I joked that this was a good omen, and it was!
Epilog: In the Fall of 1997, we tried on two nights to recover NR at a predicted magnitude of about 20.0. Nothing was evident in our images. Special processing could bring something out.
Epilog:In April of 2001, NR was finally recovered as 2001 FL127, only we retain primary designation.
UT Discovery Date: 05:09 August 11, 1996
Our Initial Designation: FBAC08
Discoverers: Dennis Borgman, Bill Dillon, Randy Pepper, Keith Rivich
Our Astrometry
Orbital Elements
Next Opposition: 17 November, 2000 (mag 19.4)
Next Opposition Ephemeris
Comments: While checking for a potential belated discovery that Keith made in the vicinity of PL1 on October 7, I noticed that PL1 was no longer showing up in the asteroid listing. Fairly recently (November ?), the MPC tied our observations with 6809 P-L, the 6809th asteroid discovered in 1960 during the Palomar-Leiden asteroid survey.
The asteroid had been observed one other opposition, then nothing until we came upon it this August. As this is a three opposition object, we'll help in getting observations for the next opposition so this asteroid can be named.
Epilog: On 8 May, 1999, we recovered 6809 P-L for its fourth opposition! We also tagged it again on 14, May, 1999.
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