+ Minor planets discovered: 53 see
The Junk Bond Observatory (JBO; code: 701) is located in the Sonoran Desert at Sierra Vista, Arizona, United States.
It was established by amateur astronomer David Healy in his backyard in 1996, using a Celestron 14 SCT and a 16-inch Meade LX200 telescope in a roll-off shelter. In 2000, a 20" Ritchey-Chretien was installed, to be replaced by a 32" Ritchey in 2004.
Asteroid searches began in 1998 using a local computer network and search software. The first discovery at the observatory was made by Jeff Medkeff in June 1999. It was named 38203 Sanner after Glen Sanner also a member of the Huachuca Astronomy Club.
As of November 2016, a total of 272 numbered minor planets have been discovered at the observatory, using a 32-inch telescope. The Minor Planet Center credits 219 of these discoveries to David Healy and/or Jeff Medkeff. The discovery of the remaining 53 numbered minor planets is credited directly to the observatory (see list below).
Until his death in 2011, David Healy was a frequent contributor of follow-up observations to objects on the Minor Planet Center's Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page, surveyed for asteroids netting approximately four new discoveries per month as of January 2007, performed discovery and confirmation photometry of extrasolar planet transits, and performed photometry of cataclysmic variable stars and active galactic nuclei. The telescope operated robotically, unattended for most of the night, controlled by software by Bob Denny and Jeff Medkeff.
JBO was dismantled in August 2021. The telescope, dome, and other equipment were purchased by a private buyer.
List of discovered minor planets
The Minor Planet Center directly credits the Junk Bond Observatory with the discovery of 53 numbered minor planets during 2000–2005.
31 March 2005 28 February 2005 30 May 2005 11 June 2005 10 December 2004 28 February 2005 9 January 2005 1 April 2005 30 May 2005 16 January 2005 18 October 2003 14 December 2004 4 March 2005 3 March 2005 11 April 2005 13 December 2004 31 December 2004 7 March 2005 11 March 2005 27 September 2003 15 October 2003 23 October 2003 30 January 2001 23 October 2003 15 December 2003 30 March 2004 28 February 2005 30 January 2001 4 March 2005 15 December 2004 19 December 2004 6 April 2005 28 September 2003 23 October 2003 8 March 2005 4 March 2005 14 December 2004 21 March 2005 11 December 2004 15 March 2004 3 March 2005 29 December 2000 30 January 2001 10 December 2004 1 March 2005 3 May 2005 17 April 2005 10 December 2004 26 September 2003 23 October 2003 31 December 2004 26 September 2003 23 October 2003
See also List of asteroid-discovering observatories List of astronomical observatories
List of observatory codes
References
External links
Junk Bond Observatory Spectrashift The NEO Confirmation Page, Minor Planet Center