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

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, 2023 KU, will make a close approach on 2025-Apr-11 15:35±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00707 AU moving with V Relative=18.01 km/sec, H=22.4 magnitude, diameter 89 m - 200 m and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2024-May-10 there is a 3602 day observation arc, the Condition Code=2 and the Earth MOID=0.00692597 AU. The solution date was 2024-May-10 06:22:30 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2023-05-16.
The observation arc was extended by 3 observations from Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2014-6-29. This NEO isn't quite large enough to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). CNEOS will likely recompute the orbit for this NEO before the close approach.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Apr 4 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that the close approach of this NEO will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Apr 11 at 1200 EDT (1600 UT) with the object moving through Draco at 211"/minute and 14.4 magnitude, but in daylight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Maximum brightness of 13.9 magnitude is predicted on 2025 Apr 12 ~0200 EDT with the NEO traveling through Bootes at ~120"/minute. It's predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from Apr 11 at 0500 EDT in Cygnus to Apr 14 at 0100 EDT in Virgo.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2023 KU:    

Since this NEO will pass very close to earth, observers should obtain orbital elements close to their time of observation. Refer to the pinned post at the top of this forum section for instructions on how to add orbital elements to your Minor Planet database (MPDB).

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 GD, will make a close approach on 2025-Apr-05 20:39±00:02 UT at a distance of 0.00635 AU moving with V Relative=11.67 km/sec, H=24.8 magnitude, diameter 29 m - 66 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of 2025 Apr 3 there is a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00402255 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-03 06:19:38 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa on 2025-04-01. This NEO is too small to make MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). The close approach on 1952 Apr 4 at 0.00455 AU was about as close as this NEO can get. No more close approaches to earth are predicted before 2071.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Apr 3 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that this object will make its close approach (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Apr 5 1700 EDT (2100 UT) with the NEO traveling through Hydra at 153"/minute and 15.8 magnitude, but in daylight and low on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Peak brightness of 15.6 magnitude is predicted on Apr 5 at 1100 EDT (1500 UT) with the NEO traveling through Leo at ~140"/minute in daylight, but below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The object may be visible from North America in a 13" telescope on the morning of Apr 5 when the object will be traveling through Leo Minor into Leo at ~110"/minute and 15.8 magnitude.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 GD:    

Since this object will pass very close to earth, for the most accurate predicted positions, observers should download orbital elements close to their time of observation. Refer to the pinned post at the top of this forum section for instructions about adding orbital elements to the minor planet database.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2025 GB, will make a close approach on 2025-Apr-03 01:25±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00484 AU moving with V Relative=8.42 km/sec, H=24.5 magnitude, diameter 33 m - 74 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is currently a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00471493 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-02 06:19:22 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS-HKO, Haleakala on 2025-04-01.

Using MPC's elements for 2025 Apr 2 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.14 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 GB will reach a peak brightness of 14.0 magnitude on 2025 Apr 3 ~0200 EDT at a distance of 739k km traveling through Bootes at ~136"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted on 2025 Apr 2 2100 EDT (Apr 3 0100 UT) with the NEO traveling through Coma Berenices at 14.2 magnitude and ~140"/minute. ST4 predicts that this object will be brighter than 16 magnitude from Apr 1 at 2100 EDT in Ursa Major to Apr 4 at 0500 EDT in Hydra.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2025 GB:    

Since this NEO will pass very close to earth, observers should obtain their orbital elements for an epoch of osculation close to the time of close approach. See the pinned post at the top of this section of the forum for instructions on obtaining orbital elements for these events and adding them to your Minor Planet database.

Good hunting,

Phil S.