Seems like there should be an export option to create a file of an observing list that I can transfer to an Argo Navis user catalog using the Argonaut software but I can't find it. I would like to use ST4 to create lists but use Argo Navis to supply push-to instructions, instead of SkyTools. I find that the light from my laptop impairs my dark adaptation and find the cable between the laptop and telescope annoying.

Does such an option exist?

Jon

CNEOS predicts that the large, Apollo-class, NEA 2017 BP31, will make a close approach on 2026-Aug-28 23:43±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02860 AU moving with V Relative=20.45 km/sec, H=19.8 magnitude, diameter 290 m - 640 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2023 Oct 15 there was a 2451 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0231043 AU. The solution date was 2023-Oct-15 06:50:05 PDT. Initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2017-01-27. This NEA is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. There will be another close approach on 2091-Mar-10 11:28± 03:03 UT at 0.02312 AU very close to the MOID value.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Aug 23 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that 2017 BP31 will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude on August 30 at 0200 EDT (0600 UT) at a distance of 0.032 AU traveling through Indus at 46.6"/minute, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio (40°N). The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 Aug 28@2000 EDT (Aug 29 0000 UT) with the object 0.029 AU distant traveling through Chamaeleon at 15 magnitude and 58"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus. This is a southern hemisphere object, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2017 BP31:    

Since the orbit of this NEA is well defined, the orbital elements provided by the MPC should yield accurate positions.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the large, Apollo-class, NEA, (221455) 2006 BC10, will make a close approach on 2026-Aug-28 15:47±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02396 AU moving with V Relative=19.00 km/sec, H=19.5 magnitude, diameter 330 m - 740 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2026 Jan 22, there is a 7303 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.00575443 AU. The solution date was 2026-Jan-22 05:49:02 PST. Discovered 2006-01-23 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak This NEA is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can downlosd using SkyTools.
The next close approach to earth on 2052-Mar-19 04:02 ± 00:02 (TDB) will be close to the Earth MOID at 0.00783 AU. Unfortunately the osculating orbital elements available now don't give accurate positions that far in the future.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Aug 4 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that (221455) 2006 BC10 will reach a peak brightness of 13.8 magnitude on 2026 Aug 29 at 2300 EDT traveling through Telescopium at 0.029 AU distant and 44"/minute, but on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio (40°N). Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 Aug 28 at 1200 EDT (1600 UT) with the NEA 0.024 AU distant traveling through Norma at 14.4 magnitude and 66"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus. This object will be best observed from the southern hemisphere. It should be visible in a 13" telescope from 40°N from August 30 (in Microscopium) to September 8 (in Aquarius).

Here's the Object Info dialog for (221455) 2006 BC10:     

The orbit for this object is well defined, so the orbital elements available from MPC should yield accurate positions.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the large, Apollo-class, NEA, (523609) 2005 PJ2, will make a close approach on 2026-Aug-27 02:01±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.04731 AU moving with V Relative=22.75 km/sec, H=19.5 magnitude, diameter 330 m - 740 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 7697 day observation arc , the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0444611 AU. The solution date was 2026-Aug-23 06:50:16 PDT. Discovered 2005-08-04 by NEAT at Palomar This object is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. There will be another close approach on 2085-Aug-27 12:10±<00:01 UT at 0.04801 AU.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Aug 23 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that (523609) 2005 PJ2 will reach a peak brightness of 15.3 magnitude on the morning of 25 August with the NEA traveling through Andromeda at ~30"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 Aug 26@2200 EDT with the NEA 0.047 AU distant traveling through Cepheus at 40"/minute and 15.7 magnitude. It will also be visible in Pegasus on the morning of August 24.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (523609) 2005 PJ2:    

The orbit for this NEA is well defined and the distance is >0.04 AU so the positions predicted by MPC's orbital elements should be accurate.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the Apollo-class NEA, 2025 AL2, will make a close approach on 2026-Aug-16 22:05±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00563 AU moving with V Relative=12.40 km/sec, H=22.8 magnitude, diameter 75 m - 170 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 578 day observation arc, the Condition Code=1 and the Earth MOID=0.00451437 AU. The solution date was 2026-Aug-07 06:20:17 PDT. Initial reported observation by University of Arizona Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2025-01-05. This approach is very close to the MOID.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Aug 7 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 AL2 will reach peak brightness of 14.0 magnitude on the morning of August 16 at a distance of 1027.2k km traveling through Phoenix at ~120"/minute, but in daylight near the horizon in Columbus, Ohio (40°N). Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 Aug 16 at 1800 EDT (2200 UT) with the NEA traveling through Eridanus at 14.7 magnitude and 184"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This object is best from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 AL2:    

The orbit for this NEA is well defined, but it will pass close-by so observers should follow the instruction in the "Important Threads" post at the top of this forum section for instructions to download the most up-to-date orbital elements for this object.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the kilometer-sized Aten-class NEA, (66146) 1998 TU3, will make a close approach on 2026-Aug-26 16:35±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.09029 AU moving with V Relative=11.31 km/sec, H=14.4 magnitude, diameter 2.864±1.165 km, and 'Rarity'=3. As of 2025 Jan 15, there was a 15321 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0736999 AU. The solution date was 2025-Jan-15 05:18:52 PST. Discovered 1998-10-13 by LINEAR at Socorro. The observation arc was extended by observations on 1982-12-04 at Siding Spring.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Aug 1, ST4.1.11.21 Visual Pro predicts that (66146) 1998 TU3 will reach a peak brightness of 11.5 magnitude from August 30 (in Horologium) to September 4 (in Phoenix), but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio (40°N). Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 Aug 26 at 1300 EDT (1700 UT) with the NEA traveling through Horologium at 11.9 magnitude and 10"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This object is best observed from the southern hemisphere.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (66146) 1998 TU3:     

Here's the predicted path of (66146) 1998 TU3:    

The orbit of this NEA is well defined so the predicted positions should be accurate, but observers should monitor the CNEOS website to see if the Solution date is updated.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Here's a link to an article that describes research identifying (44) Nysa as a contact-trinary object:

https://www.space.com/astronomy/asteroid...ittle-moon

They were also able to detect a small moon.

Hope you find it interesting.

Phil S.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft captured a time-lapse image of Mars during its flyby-gravity boost in May 2026.

Here's the article:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/artic...00197.html

The spacecraft is due to arrive at (16) Psyche in 2029.

Hope you found this interesting,

Phil S.

Here's an article describing new work about a new type of solar system objects called "dark comets". The NEA 1998 SH2 was reclassified as a dark comet because it had changed its orbit due to sublimating ice. 

https://www.sciencealert.com/a-near-eart...ry-defense

This is going to make predicting their orbits more difficult.

Hope you find it interesting,

Phil S.

So you installed SkyTools 4 Visual, or upgraded to it, or installed the bundle. How do you start SkyTools 4 Visual?

This would appear to be trivial, but a lot of people run into problems finding the SkyTools 4 Visual shortcut. Some even open the Programs folder, locate the skytools.exe file, and try to create their own shortcut, which isn't always going to work properly. So what is the solution? 

Windows 11 keeps switching things up with regard to the way Apps are listed in the Start Menu, which can make finding them confusing. And not only that, but this problem has happened in Windows 10 too. So here is a simple solution that will work for both Windows 10 and Windows 11:

To the right of the Start menu button is a text search area. Type "SkyTools" and wait a bit. Look for "Apps" in the list that appears, and under that heading you will see SkyTools 4 Imaging (if you have it) and/or SkyTools 4 Visual. To avoid having to search every time, right click on each SkyTools App in turn and select "Pin to Start." 

The next time you want to start either version of SkyTools, click the Start button and look for the SkyTools 4 Visual and/or SkyTools 4 Imaging icon. Double-click to start.