CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 KE1, will make a close approach on 2025-May-23 01:31±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00129 AU moving with V Relative=18.65 km/sec, H=26.4 magnitude, diameter 14 m - 31 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00136553 AU. The solution date was 2025-May-22 03:12:01 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Catalina Sky Survey on 2025-05-21. This approach is even closer than the calculated MOID which is very uncommon. This NEO is too small to make the MPC's list of PHAs.

Using MPC's orbital elemets for the epoch 2025 May 22 0000 UT, ST4.1.1.14 Visual Pro predicts that the close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2025 May 22 2200 EDT (May 23 0200 UT) at a distnce of 196.7k km traveling through Apus at 14.0 mgnitude and 19.1"/second, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio! Peak brightness of 13.3 magnitude is predicted to occur on May 22 2000 EDT at a distance of 219.0k km traveling through Scorpius at 15.6"/second in daylight, below the horizon in Columbus. This object will be best from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 KE1:    

Since this object will pass very close to earth, follow the directions for downloading the most accurate orbital elements in the 'Important Threads' Post at the top of this forum section. This NEO will be a real screamer at 19"/second.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, (424482) 2008 DG5, will make a close approach on 2025-Jun-05 23:59±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02335 AU moving with V Relative=6.21 km/sec, H=19.6 magnitude, diameter 320 m - 700 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is currently a 8819 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0186531 AU. The solution date was 2025-May-21 05:49:02 PDT. This object was discovered at Catalina on 2008-02-28 by CSS. This NEO is on MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). Two more close approaches of ~0.023 AU are predicted on 2080-Jun-02 05:43±<00:01 UT and 2163-Jun-04 22:22±00:05 UT.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 May 22 0000 UT, ST4.1.1.14 Visual Pro predicts that (424482) DG5 will reach a peak brightness of 13.6 magnitude on the evening of 2025 Jun 1 at a distance of 0.03 AU traveling through Bootes at 16.5"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 June 5 2000 EDT (June 6 0000 UT) with the NEO 0.02 AU distant traveling through Canes Venatici at 14.1 magnitude and 22.6"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. The close approach should be visible in Europe, weather permitting. This object is already brighter than 15 magnitude and is predicted to remain so until June 8.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:    

This should be an easy NEO to observe.

Good Hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 KF, will make a close approach on 2025-May-21 17:26±00:04 UT at a distance of 0.00077 AU moving with V Relative=11.58 km/sec, H=27.1 magnitude, diameter 10 m - 23 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.000805912 AU. The solution date was 2025-May-20 06:23:01 PDT. The initial reported observation was by MAP, San Pedro de Atacama on 2025-05-19.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 May 20 0000 UT, ST4.1.1.14 Visual Pro predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 13.8 magnitude on 2025 May 21 at 1200 EDT at a distance of only 133.3k km traveling through Centaurus at 14.8"/second, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 May 21 1400 EDT (1800 UT) with the NEO at 14.5 magnitude and 119.5k km traveling through Hydrus at 19.2"/second in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This object will be best from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 KF:    

Since this object will pass very close and will be moving extremely fast, observers should follow the directions in the post at the top of this forum section to obtain orbital elements close to the time of their observations.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello, I am trying to add my Optolong L quad as one of my filters and am not certain of the format needed. What I have is below in a text file, and I am not specifically sure of the percentages. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

656.3 486.1
495.9 500.7
435.8 546.1 577 578.1
598 589.6 615.4 616.1

Here's an article about the close approach of the NEO (612356) 2002 JX8 that's due to occur on 2025 May 9 2302 UT:

https://www.space.com/stargazing/a-stadi...live-video

The close approach is going to be live streamed on YouTube.

Phil S.

Tom Polakis has created a pdf that includes all of the articles he did in a series for Astronomy magazine. These are excellent articles and together represent something similar to the old Burnham's.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T441ZT3iY3iVgVgX5zNMsdsS16mnz9ZY/view?usp=sharing

If people are interested I can produce a SkyTools observing list to go along with it.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 HF1, will make a close approach on 2025-Apr-24 11:13±00:03 UT at a distance of 0.00263 AU moving with V Relative=14.74 km/sec, H=26.3 magnitude, diameter 14 m - 32 m and 'Rarity'=1. Currently there is a 0.73177 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.000637618 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-23 06:22:44 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2025-04-22. This NEO is too small to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). The next close approach is predicted in October 2028, but at 0.014 AU distance.

Using MPC's orbital elements for 2025 Apr 23 0000 UT ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 HF1 will make its close approach (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Apr 24 at 0700 EDT traveling through Cancer 395.6k km distant at 447"/minute and 16.6 magnitude, but in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude is predicted on 2025 Apr 24 around 0000 EDT with the NEO 548k km distant traveling through Leo at 247"/minute.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 HF1:    

There was still a 3 minute uncertainty in the time of the close approach of this object, so for best accuracy anyone planning to observe this NEO should follow the directions for downloading orbital elements for fast changing orbits in the post at the top of this forum section.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I have a telescope defined with 2 magnifying finders. 

When I bring up a finder chart (via View Scope/Binocs) it only shows finder 1. 

I cannot find where to select finder 2. I have searched the program help and these forums.

I am on Sky Tools version 4.0.11.14.

How do I do this?

Thank you,

Paul

Here's an article about the Lucy spacecraft's flyby of main belt asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson on 2025 Apr 20:

https://phys.org/news/2025-04-lucy-space...unter.html

Phil S.

Hi All, Hi Chris,

When displaying the interactive atlas, one can add "my attachements".

Would it be possible to display (with a sign to recognize them ?) all the objects of the observing list your are currently using ?
It would be great if the listed objects could be displayed as "any", "logged", or "unlogged".

By this way, one might choose the objects of his target list to be seen as a spreadsheet, as ST4 does routinely, and at their own position in the sky with interactive atlas. 
Especially, when observing a given target, this will allow to visualise the neighboring targets of his target list.

Thanks, and clear sky (not really true in western Europ presently    )
Bertrand