It's only 2024 September 12 and the MPC's already reporting 198 NEOs discovered in September plus 343 minor planets and 1 comet. They've really been on a tear since the new moon. On September 11 my Database Power Search (DBPS) of MPs within 0.05 AU of earth reported 66 objects. On September 10 there were 65 while on September 9 and today there were 63.

In addition there are kilometer-sized (66146) 1998 TU3 and (276049) 2002 CE26 still passing by.

Phil S.

Here's an article discussing the Subaru Telescope's discoveries of an outer ring of objects beyond the Kuiper belt:

Astronomers Stunned by Unexpected Discovery of New Celestial Bodies in the Outer Solar System (scitechdaily.com)

Hope that you find it interesting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2024 RQ, will make a close approach on 2024-Sep-16 10:37±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00351 AU moving with V Relative=6.70 km/sec, H=25.1 magnitude, diameter 25 m - 56 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 9 day observation arc, the Condition Code=5 and the Earth MOID=0.00232227 AU. The solution date was 2024-Sep-11 06:24:38 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2024-09-01. This NEO is too small to make MPC's list of PHAs.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Sep 11 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual Pro predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 14.5 magnitude on 2024 Sep 15 at 1400 EDT when the NEO will be 665.2k km distant traveling through Aquarius at 92"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Sep 16 at 0700 EDT when the NEO will be 15 magnitude in Aquila traveling at 146"/minute in twilight below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This NEO should be bright enough to be visible in a 13" scope from the morning of September 14 in Cetus to Septembr 16 in Delphinus.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

Since the close approach distance is only 532k km, observers should download orbital elements close to when they observe for the best accuracy.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

The newly discovered very-NEO, 2024 RW1 collided with earth over the Philippines several hours after discovery. The collision occurred on 2024 Sep 4 12:46 EDT (1646 UT). The estimated diameter was ~1m. This was the ninth MP to be discovered before impact.

Here's an article about the resulting fireball:

Small asteroid creates ‘spectacular fireball’ while burning up over Philippines - UPI.com

Hope that you find it interesting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2024 RJ2, made a close approach on 2024-Sep-05 04:34±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02712 AU moving with V Relative=15.95 km/sec, H=23.3 magnitude, diameter 57 m - 130 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.0271043 AU. The solution date was 2024-Sep-05 06:26:01 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2024-09-03.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Sep 5 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual Pro predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude on 2024 Sep 6 at 0200 EDT traveling through Aquarius at 43.5"/minute. The close approach was predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Sep 5 at 0100 EDT when the NEO was traveling through Aquarius at 49"/minute at 16.4 magnitude.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:    

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized, Aten class NEO, (66146) 1998 TU3 will make a close approach on 2024-Nov-05 19:47±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.08884 AU moving with V Relative =11.53 km/sec, H=14.4 magnitude, diameter 2.864±1.165 km and 'Rarity'=3. As of 2024 Aug 25, there is a 15239 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0734514 AU. The solution date was 2024-Aug-25 05:48:53 PDT. This NEO was discovered at Socorro on 1998-10-13 by LINEAR. Its not on MPC's list of PHAs due to the large Earth MOID. This is another 'Rarity'=3 event and SkyTools predicts that this MP is already ~15.3 magnitude in Taurus at 0.48 AU distance.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Aug 28 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 11.6 from the morning of 2024 Oct 27 in Eridanus at 0.11 AU distant to the evening of 2024 Nov 1 in Horologium at 0.09 AU distance. The close approach is predicted to occur (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Nov 5 1500 EST when the NEO will have faded to 12 magnitude traveling through Hydrus at 10.7"/minute in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.  It will move too far south to be visible from Columbus, Ohio  on the morning of 2024 Oct 29, unfortunately. This close approach will be best for southern hemisphere observers, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

This object will be visible in medium sized scopes for quite a while from both hemispheres, so there should be many opportunities to observe it.

Good Hunting,

Phil S.

Here's an article about NASA's latest Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise in case of an imminent asteroid collision:

Defying Disaster: NASA’s Innovative Strategies in Planetary Defense (scitechdaily.com)

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized NEO, (276049) CE26, will make a close approach on 2024-Sep-11 14:07±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.17928 AU moving with V Relative=25.89 km/sec, H=16.7 magnitude, diameter 3.5±0.4 km and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 8278 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0966314 AU. The solution date was 2024-Aug-25 05:48:53 PDT. This NEO was discovered at Socorro on 2002-02-10 by LINEAR. This object is approaching 16th magnitude and will have a broad light curve due to its large size and distance. It won't be a fast mover; however, due to the distance. This MP's MOID isn't close enough to make MPC's list of PHAs, but it's a big one.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Aug 25 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.9 magnitude on the evenings of Sep 7-9 at a distance of 0.18 AU traveling through Aquila at ~11"/minute. Close approach is predicted to occur (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Sep 11 1000 EDT when the NEO is at a distance of 0.18 AU traveling through Sagittarius at 12"/minute in daylight, but below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Bonjour, est-il possible de récupérer un horizon obstrué créé avec skytools imaging pour l'exporter vers un xls ou le sauvegarder ?

Here's an article about a commercial attempt to mine a metal-rich asteoid that looks interesting:

Against all odds, an asteroid mining company appears to be making headway | Ars Technica

For obvious reasons, they don't identify the asteroid of interest. They don't want any claim jumpers. Pretty cool.

Phil S.