[neo_followup] L1533N1 = puzzler on NEOCP

[Bill Gray]

Hello all,

    (W16) Pleasant Groves Observatory in Alabama posted this object a
couple of days ago,  and (033) Karl Schwarzschild Observatory posted
some follow-up observations made 18 hours later.  The observations
fit nicely together for a q=0.84 +/- 0.07 AU object.

    (W16) has now posted its followup,  and you can't fit all the
data together into one orbit.  Of the three arcs -- (W16)'s discovery
data,  their follow-up,  and (033)'s data -- any pair goes together
with reasonable residuals for a NEO.  But they can't all be right.
I can't even offer an opinion as to which;  both sets of follow-up
observations look completely plausible.

    My guess is that somebody did follow-up without dithering their
pointing,  and thereby got "observations" of a hot pixel or similar
camera defect.  Consider this next comment to be written in fiery
letters in the sky,  or at least in all-caps:  PLEASE DITHER YOUR
TELESCOPE'S POINTING.  "Observations" of this sort are not just
wrong;  they're convincing enough to get everybody else looking in
the wrong place.  Please... I beg of you... think of the children...
every time you don't dither your pointing,  an angel cries and
Satan laughs...

-- Bill