La Cañada Observatory, is an initiative by Juan Lacruz, the observatory started astrometric operations in the summer of 2002, it is registered as station J87 in the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union.

The Observatory also participates in the studies on minor bodies promoted by the Group on Meteorites, Minor Bodies, and Planetary Sciences of the Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC).



Sunday, January 25, 2009

16/17 enero 2009 Apertura del Año internacional de la Astronomía, Molina de Segura.

Los días 16 y 17 de enero 2009 se celebraron las jornadas de apertura del año internacional de la astronomía en Molina de Segura, nota del Ayuntamiento.

En el observatorio de La Murta, de izquierda a derecha:
Pepe Ripero (CAA), Juan Lacruz (La Cañada) (CAA), Rafael Ferrando (Pla d'Arguines), Josep María Trigo i Rodriguez (CSIC, IEEC, UAB), Albert Sánchez Caso (Gualba). (En primer término, agachados) José Antonio de los Reyes (La Murta), Diego Rodriguez (Guadarrama) (CAA). Foto gentileza de Sensi Pastor (La Murta).

Cenando después de las conferencias y de la observación pública.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

2008 UL341

2008 UL341
a 3.1923792 e 0.2055354 Incl. 7.00596 H 15.9
From 11 observations 2008 Oct. 25-Nov. 18.

Residuals
20081025 *J87 0.5+ 0.5- 20081103 G96 0.1- 0.0+ 20081118 703 0.7+ 0.9-
20081025 J87 0.4- 0.1- 20081103 G96 0.2- 0.1- 20081118 703 0.8- 0.5+
20081025 J87 0.1- 0.7+ 20081103 G96 0.1+ 0.0+ 20081118 703 1.1+ 0.0-
20081103 G96 0.1+ 0.0+ 20081118 703 1.1- 0.5+

Even though the telescope is awaiting repair, (some gears broken), the observatory continues discovering main belt asteroids, this is the case of this new designation for a main belt body first observed on 2008 Oct 25 from La Canada, independent observations by surveys G96 on 2008 Nov 3 and 703 on 2008 Nov 18 have been found to be of the same object, which makes number 115 of the designations attributed to the J87 observatory by the MPC.
The Minor Planet Center sent this designation today, 2009 Jan 10, two months and half after the discovery observations and two months since confirmations.
The absolute magnitud parameter H 15.9 suggest a size around 1.8 km assuming a typical albedo.



Incluso con el telescopio esperado reparacion, (algunos engranajes rotos), el observatorio continua descubriendo asteroides del cinturon principal, este es el caso de esta nueva designacion para un cuerpo del cinturon principal observado por primera vez el 25 oct 2008 desde La Canada, observaciones independientess por las surveys G96 el 3 de noviembre 2008 y 703 el 18 nov 2008 son del mismo objeto, que hace el numero 115 de los descubiertos desde el observatorio J87.
El Minor Planet Center envio hoy 10 enero 2009 esta designacion, unos dos meses y medio despues de las observaciones de descubrimiento y dos meses despues de ser confirmado.
El parametro de magnitud absoluta H 15.9 indica un tamano de 1.8 km suponiendo un albedo tipico.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

P/2008 Q2 Ory

This comet was discovered by Michel Ory of Delemont, Switzerland in CCD images.
The image below is a stack of images taken from La Cañada.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

2008 September 23, Fragmented comet 205/P Giacobini

This is a stack integration of 24 minutes tracked on the comet's movement. The black and white reversed image has been streched to bring out details of the fragment well visible. No other fragments show on the full 20x20 arc min frame however.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Discovery #100

La Cañada Observatory celebrates the discovery of the asteroid number 100, asteroids 2008 RC80 and 2008 RD80 make 101 designations credited to the observatory.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

2008 RM78 and 2008 RA80

Yet another two main belt asteroid designations for J87, these add up to 99 minor bodies discovered from La Cañada.