Here we have the Planet Neptune (Magnitude: 7.81, Size: 2.3") and satellites Triton and Nereid as imaged from Brisbane on the evenings of 23rd and 24th September 2025.

According to SkyTools 4 Imaging, Neptune has a Diameter of 49528.0 km.

Name      Mag  PA°    Sep"
Triton    13.4 344.6  11.2
Nereid    18.7  62.9  409.0

Triton has a magnitude of 13.4, with Nereid at 18.68.

ST4 also writes that on September 23, 2025, Neptune was at opposition at magnitude 7.8 and subtending 2.3 arc seconds, something I did not know at the time of taking this set of images.

Neptune lies at an Earth Distance:  28.9 AU and Sun Distance:  29.9 AU.

I must say, it is nice to find Nereid in ST4, I previously had to visit the JPL Horizons website,  generate then download an ephemeris for Nereid, then manually plot the position to GoTo the RA and DEC coordinates. I also no longer have to worry about J2000 and Apparent.

Celestron 11” EDGE HD at F10, ASI 2600 MM Pro.
30x60 sec exposures.

Dennis.

   

   

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized Apollo class NEO, (152664) 1998 FW4, will make a close approach on 2025-Sep-29 18:59±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02575 AU moving with V Relative=18.61 km/sec, H=19.7 magnitude, diameter 310 m - 690 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 11521 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0150763 AU. The solution date was 2025-Sep-23 06:28:21 PDT.  Discovered 1998-03-20 by LINEAR at Socorro, the observation arc was extended by 2 observations on 1998-03-09 by Palomar Mountain-DSS. This NEO is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. This is the closest approach by (152664) 1998 FW4 for the next 150 years although the predicted approach on 2029 Sep 30 will be 0.02614 AU distant.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2025 Sep 23 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.18 Visual Pro predicts that (152664) 1998 FW4 will reach a peak brightness of 13.9 magnitude on 2025 September 28 at 0400 EDT (0800 UT) at a distance of 0.03 AU traveling through Andromeda at 43"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 September 29 at 1500 EDT (1900 UT) with the NEO at 14.5 magnitude traveling through Camelopardalis at 60"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. It's predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from September 19 (in Pisces) to September 30 (in Lynx). Tonight it's predicted to be shining in Pisces at 14.8 magnitude traveling at 9"/minute.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (152664) 1998 FW4:    

Observers should follow the directions in the 'Important Threads' at the top of this forum section for instructions on downloading the most accurate orbital elements for their ephemeris calculations.

This is a well placed NEO for northern hemisphere observers that's also visible from the southern hemisphere for now. It won't get (887) Alinda-bright, but it should be very nice.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 SW, will make a close approach on 2025-Sep-25 15:56±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01069 AU moving with V Relative=8.08 km/sec, H=22.8 magnitude, diameter 73 m - 160 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of September 21, there was a 4 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.0080382 AU. The solution date was 2025-Sep-21 06:51:31 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2025-09-17. This NEO isn't quite large enough to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). CNEOS hasn't calculated any future close approaches as of today.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Sep 22 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.18 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 SW will reach a peak brightness of 14.0 on 2025 Sep 25 at 2000 EDT (Sep 26 0000 UT) with 2025 SW traveling through Pegasus at ~60"/minute, but in twilight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. It will dim slightly and rise higher above the horizon as the sky darkens, offering a better view. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Sep 25 at 1200 EDT (1600 UT) when 2025 SW will be 14.1 magnitude still traveling through Pegasus at 64"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus. This NEO is predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from September 22 (in Capricornus) to September 28 (in Andromeda).

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 SW:    

Observers should follow the directions for downloading orbital elements described in the 'Important Thread' at the top of this forum section to obtain the most accurate elements for their ephemeris predictions.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

As of 2025 Sep 16, the MPC has updated the epoch of the orbital elements of their MPCORB data file to Epoch 2461000.5 (2025-Nov-21.0) TDB. The previou epoch was 2025 May 5.0

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Aten class NEO, 2025 RL2, will make a close approach on 2025-Sep-19 08:57±00:38 UT at a distance of 0.00145 AU moving with V Relative=9.68 km/sec, H=26.0 magnitude, diameter 17 m - 37 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of September 15, there is a 2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.000219316 AU.  The solution date was 2025-Sep-15 06:52:13 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Kitt Peak-Bok on 2025-09-13.

SkyTools 4.1.11.18 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 RL2 will reach a peak brightness of 13.7 magnitude near midnight on September 19 with 2025 RL2 traveling through Pegasus at ~340"/minute. It's still predicted to be 14.1 magnitude at close approach in Aquila, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Observers farther west should be able to catch it closer to the time of close approach.

I'll post an update after the orbit has been refined further.

There were several bright MPs that passed us on September 11-13 that were detected after they'd already passed by like 2025 RO2 and 2025 RQ2.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered Amor class NEO, 2025 PJ1, will make a close approach on 2025-Sep-21 20:20±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02971 AU moving with V Relative=11.85 km/sec, H=22.2 magnitude, diameter 98 m - 220 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of Sep 13, there is a 42 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.0264803 AU. The solution date was 2025-Sep-13 06:19:10 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2025-08-02. The absolute magnitude (H) of 2025 PJ1 is just 0.2 magnitude too high at 22.2 magnitude to make MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). CNEOS hasn't predicted any future close approaches.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2025 Sep 13 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.16 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 PJ1 will reach a peak brightness of 15.8 magnitude around midnight on September 22 traveling through Aquarius at 32"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 September 21 at 1600 EDT (2000 UT) with 2025 PJ1 0.03 AU distant traveling through Aquarius at 33.5"/minute, but in daylight below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Europe and Africa are the best locations to observe the close approach.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 PJ1:    

Observers should follow the directions in the "Important Thread" at the top of this forum section for instructions on downloading the most recent orbital elements into their minor planet database. This will give the most accurate position calculations.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello everyone,

I have released an update with various fixes and a new version 4.1. feature.

The new feature is Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas chart numbers. Its available for those who have upgraded to SkyTools Imaging/Visual 4.1. 

These chart numbers have been added to the Object Info on the Chart Numbers tab. 

They are also displayed in a column of the Nightly Planner, Real Time, or Target Selection tools. To enable the column, click the gear icon next to the the column scheme menu. Check the box next to Interstellarum Deep Sky. 

I appreciate everyone's patience. EAA is almost ready for SkyTools Visual 4.1. Other features will follow soon after, and I have promised to release at least one new feature with every update.

As always the full list of fixes is here: https://skyhound.com/stupdate4.html

Looks like another potentially bright comet has been posted on PCCP, but with only a small arc so far. However SWAN25B appears to be around 8th mag and visible in binos in the southern hemisphere. If the orbit is anywhere near correct and this is not a disintegration outburst the northern hemisphere should get it end of Sept

Is there a way to start the program always on Night Vision Mode?

Hi,

I have not use the app for a few years, but I would like to try again.

I remember writing notes beside the item I looked to remember later on.
Like: Easy find or Couldn't separate

Is that capability gone?