WORKSHOP ON ASTEROID 2008 TC3
University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
Dec 5-15, 2009

Goal of the workshop is to discuss the results from ongoing research into the properties of asteroid 2008 TC3 when it was still in space, its nature and origin, the asteroid's impact in Earth's atmosphere, the subsequent recovery, and the analysis of the recovered meteorites. Talks on the origin of ureilites are invited, as well as discussions on how to adjust observing strategies to increase the likelyhood of future discoveries of small asteroids on a collision course with Earth.

By accepting this invitation, researchers will have a chance to examine the collection of recovered meteorites and discuss how best to proceed with the investigation of this small asteroid.

The workshop will be held on the days of December 6 and 7, 2009. The University invites participants to take part in a banquet on the evening of December 6 [Earliest return flight would be afternoon December 8].

In the week following, from December 8 to 15, there will be a site visit to the area where Almahata Sitta was recovered. An effort will be made to expand the diversity of recovered materials by finding more of the fallen debris. Participants are asked to bring clothes and strong shoes, suitable for outdoor camping and hiking. The weather can be cold at night (bring woolen hat). Bring medication for a bad stomach, anti-musquito spray, and sun-screen.

Itinerary:
Dec 05 - Arrival in Khartoum
Dec 06 - Workshop at University of Khartoum
Dec 07 - Workshop at University of Khartoum
Dec 08 - Travel to Almahata Sitta
Dec 09 - Field survey
Dec 10 - Field survey
Dec 11 - Field survey
Dec 12 - Field survey
Dec 13 - Sight seeing along Nile, Wadi Halfa - Abri
Dec 14 - Sight seeing Abri - Karima
Dec 15 - Sight seeing Karima - Khartoum, back in late afternoon

Abstract and registration deadline for making presentations has now passed (November 1, 2009). You can make updates on the registration form, by re-submitting (only fill out your name and updated parts). Registration for local participants is possible at the meeting.

After registration (and sending us your passport pdf), you will receive a letter of invitation from the University and a visa approval number from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sudan that should help expedite the visa process. If there are any questions, please feel free to contact us at: Petrus.M.Jenniskens [at] nasa.gov

• Dr. P. Jenniskens, SETI Institute, USA (chair)
• Dr. S. Chesley, NASA JPL, USA
• Dr. A. Fitzsimmons, Queens U. Belfast, UK
• Dr. D. Nesvorny, SWRI, USA
• Dr. P. Scheirich, Ondrejov Observatory, Czech Republic
• Prof. C. Taricco, University of Torino, Italy
• Dr. M. H. Shaddad, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Dr. M. Zolensky, NASA JSC, USA

Local Organizing Committee:

• Dr. Muawia H. Shaddad, University of Khartoum, Sudan (chair)
• Dr. Omer Eid, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Dr. Arbab Ibrahim Arbab, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Dr. Abbakar Ali Abdella, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Saadia Elsir, Juba University, Khartoum, Sudan
• Ayman Ismael Hamid, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Hosam Eldeen Babiker, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Ayman Kudoda, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Diya Numan, University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Nesreen Shareef Hassan, University of Khartoum, Sudan

Sunday December 06

09:00 - Badging and on-site Registration
10:00 - Call to order Local Organizing Committee (M. Shaddad)
10:05 - Welcoming remarks from the Head of the Physics Dept.
10:10 - Welcoming remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Science.
10:15 - Opening by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Khartoum.
10:25 - Goals and Objectives of the 2008 TC3 Workshop (P. Jenniskens)

Impact and recovery of asteroid 2008 TC3
10:30 - Muawia H. Shaddad, University of Khartoum, Sudan
* The recovery of Almahata Sitta
11:20 - Steve Chelsey, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA
* Impact Trajectory of Asteroid 2008 TC3
11:50 - break
12:05 - Petr Scheirich, Astronomical Institute, Ondrejov, Czech Republic
* Shape and rotation of 2008 TC3
12:35 - Alan Fitzsimmons, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
* Spectroscopy of small NEOs including 2008 TC3
13:05 - Jacob Kuiper, Dutch Meteorological Institute, the Netherlands
* Atmospheric entry of 2008 TC3 observed by KLM airliner and by METEOSAT satellites
13:25 - group photo
13:30 - lunch

The nature of Ureilites: New results from Almahata Sitta
15:00 - Michael Zolensky, NASA Johnson Space Center, USA
* Mineralogy and petrography of Almahata Sitta
15:30 - Doug Rumble, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Washington DC, USA
* Oxygen Isotope Composition of Almahata Sitta
16:00 - Jason Herrin, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, USA
* Thermal history of Almahata Sitta
16:30 - break
16:45 - Saadia Elsir, University of Juba, Khartoum, Sudan
* XRF Analysis of Asteroid 2008 TC3
17:15 - Abbasher Mahmoud Gismelseed, Muscat, Oman
* A Mossbauer study of Fe-bearing phases in Almahata Sitta meteorite
17:45 - Tomas Kohout, Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland
* Physical properties of the TC3 asteroid/Almahata Sitta meteorite

19:00 - Banquet (sponsored by University of Khartoum)

Poster Session:
P-01: Luc Bastiaens, Observatory of Antwerp Urania, Antwerp, Belgium
* Centralized gathering of fireball information from the general public in an international context
P-02: Jakub Haloda, Czech Geological Survey, Prague, Czech Republic
* Physical properties of meteorites
P-03: Klaas Jobse, Dutch Meteor Society, Oostkapelle, the Netherlands
* The January 17, 2009, fireball and meteorite recovery in Lolland, Denmark
P-04: Carl Johannink, Dutch Meteor Society, Gronau, Germany
* Impact and attempted recovery of the October 13, 2009, fireball over Groningen
P-05: Casper ter Kuile, Dutch Meteor Society, the Netherlands
* Fireball observations from the Netherlands
P-06: Shahinaz Yousef, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
* On the possibility of formation of nanodiamonds in Ureilites by shock waves generated by the explosion of the meteor within the Earth's atmosphere
P-07: Francois Colas, IMCCE, Paris, France
* Meteor Network in France for high accuracy orbits
P-08: Kees Welten, UC Berkeley, CA, USA
* The cosmic ray exposure history and pre-atmospheric mass of Almahata Sitta
21:00 - closing of the day

Monday December 07

The nature of the Ureilite parent body
10:00 - Call to order Local Organizing Committee
10:15 - H. Uwe Keller, Max Planck Institut fuer Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany
* 2008 TC3, meteorites, and comet Halley
10:45 - Danny Glavin, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland, USA
* Extraterrestrial Amino Acids in the Almahata Sitta Meteorite
11:15 - Amy Morrow, Stanford University, USA
* Detection of Aromatic Organic Species in 2008 TC3 by Two-Step Laser Mass Spectrometry
11:45 - break
12:00 - Stefan Loehle, Institut fuer Raumfahrtsysteme, Stuttgart, Germany
* Characterization of thermo-physical Properties using ground testing facilities
12:30 - Carla Taricco, University of Torino and Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario (IFSI, INAF), Torino, Italy [presented by Peter Jenniskens]
* Cosmogenic radioisotopes in Almahata Sitta meteorite
13:00 - Tehani Shatir, University of Khartoum, Sudan
* Reflection spectroscopy of Almahata Sitta
13:30 - Lunch

Search for the ureilite parent body in the asteroid belt
15:00 - Paul Chodas, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA
* Orbit Propagation of 2008 TC3: Recent and Distant Past
15:30 - Jeremie Vaubaillon, IMCCE, Paris, France
* The dynamics of 2008 TC3
16:00 - Mark Hammergren, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, Chicago, USA
* Prospects for Identifying Ureilite Parent Bodies
16:30 - break
16:45 - Caroline L. Smith, The Natural History Museum, London, U.K.
* Almahata Sitta and Similar Anomalous Polymict Ureilites: Insights Into the Ureilite Parent Body
17:15 - Peter Jenniskens, SETI Institute, Mountain View, USA
* Searching for the Ureilite Parent Body: origin of 2008 TC3 in the asteroid belt
17:45 - Discussion

Public lecture
19:00 - Prof. Lucy McFadden, University of Maryland, USA
* Searching for Meteorites in Antarctica
19:45 - Close of workshop

Once visa approval numbers are received, the U.S. participants need to fill out this form and submit to the Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan in Washinghton DC (by FedEx, UPS, or DHL) including one passport photo, your passport, the letter of invitation, and a money order for $151 payable to "Embassy of Sudan". Also include a FedEx (etc.) pre-labeled return envelope. The Instructions are here.

• University Guest Houses (modest, free) - No reservation needed, we will sent confirmation if available - Tel.: +249-911223436 and +249 9 12460983
• Acropole Hotel (western style, $111.-/night single; $162.-/night double - 10 rooms available) - Call for registration. Tel.: 249-1-83772860 (or 83772518 or 83778483)
• Nile Serviced Apartment (western style, $130.-/night suite) - Call for registration. Tel.: +249 183 749-401 (or -402, or -404)

Omer Eid, Head of the Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Khartoum. Email: omereid [at] gmail.com; Tel.: +249-11-780539.

Saadia Elsir, Juba University, Khartoum. Email: saadia.elsir [at] yahoo.com; Tel.: +249-912-346333.

Peter Jenniskens, SOC chair, SETI Institute, 515 N. Whisman Road, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Email: Petrus.M.Jenniskens [at] nasa.gov; Tel.: +1-650-8100216.