Skip to Navigation ↓ The recently installed 1-meter telescope at
McDonald Observatory has helped confirm its first two new Near
Earth Objects (NEOs). Both were candidates from PanSTARRS, and
were followed up by a number of observatories including LCOGT.
The first object, initially called P103Jah was detected by
PanSTARRS on June 10th and followed-up by Tim Lister on June 12.
The object was officially designated as 2012 LK2 the next day.
The object is quite large (~1.3km diameter) and on a very
eccentric orbit which brings it within 0.35 AU of the Earth
(Link to M.P.E.C.). The second object was also discovered by
PanSTARRS on June 15 and initially designated as P103NkL.
Follow-up by Tim Lister from Faulkes Telescope North (FTN) on
June 16 and the McDonald 1-meter on June 18, along with other
observatories lead to its confirmation as a new NEO and
designated as 2012 LD13 (Link to M.P.E.C.). This object is quite
a bit smaller than 2012 LK2, around 130 meters in size, and is
also on an eccentric orbit which bring