CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEO, 2024 PZ3, will make a close approach on 2024-Aug-15 01:39±00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00185 AU moving with V Relative=12.19 km/sec, H=25.3 magnitude, diameter 23 m - 51 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a  2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.00132646 AU. The solution date was 2024-Aug-13 05:26:39 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2024-08-12.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2024 Aug 13 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness 15.0 magnitude on 2024 Aug 14 at 1700 EDT 345.96k km distant when it will be traveling through Circinus ~360"/minute in daylight below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Aug 14 2200 EDT at a distance of 279.79k km and 16.5 magnitude traveling through Centaurus at 533"/minute below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. This object is best observed from the southern hemisphere, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2024 PZ3:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Here's a link to an article about the end of NASA'a NEOWISE asteroid mission:

NASA's Mission to Monitor Near-Earth Objects Comes to an End – PJ Media

Hope that you find it interesting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts the close approach of the kilometer-sized, Amor class NEO, (164217) 2004 PT42, on 2024-Aug-15 09:10±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.17961 AU moving with V Relative= 25.91 km/sec, H=17.3 magnitude, diameter 930 m - 2.1 km and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 8946 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.163494 AU. The solution date was 2024-Aug-07 06:20:03 PDT. This MP was discovered at Siding Spring on 2004-08-11 by Siding Spring Survey. This object isn't on MPC's list of PHAs because the MOID is too large. It's predicted to be almost this close again (0.18282 AU) on 2181 Aug 21 15:56 UT.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Aug 7 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this MP will have a peak brightness of 14.9 magnitude from the evening of August 14 to the morning of August 16 (the light curve is rather flat due to the distance) when the NEO will be traveling through Aquarius at ~11"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Aug 15 0500 EDT when the MP will be traveling through Aquarius at ~12"/minute. This large NEO should be brighter than 15.5 magnitude from August 9 (near the Pisces-Pegasus boarder) to August 21 Phoenix.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered NEO, 2024 KH3, will make a close approach on 2024-Aug-10 15:13 ±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03728 AU moving with V Relative=11.42 km/sec, H=21.3 magnitude, diameter 150 m - 330 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 68 day observation arc, the Condition Code=5 and the Earth MOID=0.0375829 AU .The solution date was 2024-Aug-06 05:49:56 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2024-05-29. This object is large enough to make the list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) with H<22 magnitude.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2024 Aug 6 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that peak brightness 14.5 magnitude will occur on August 11 at 0300 EDT when the MP will be traveling through Capricorn at 24"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Aug 10 1100 EDT when the MP is predicted to be 14.8 magnitude traveling through Aquarius at 26"/minute in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. The close approach should be well observed from Australia, weather permitting. This NEO should be brighter than 16 magnitude from August 7 in Aquila to August 14 in Piscis Austrinis.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEO will make a close approach on 2024-Aug-06 21:40±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00935 AU moving with V Relative=12.21 km/sec, H=24.2 magnitude, diameter 38 m - 84 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 26 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.000537391 AU. The solution date was 2024-Aug-02 06:23:02 PDT. The initial reported observation was  by Moonbase South Observatory, Hakos on 2024-07-29. The observation arc was extended by observations on 2024 07 06.411500 by F51 – Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala. This NEO wasn't on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that I downloaded on 2024 Aug 2, but it should make the list eventually due to its size and the small MOID value. As of 2024 August 2, CNEOS hasn't predicted any future close approaches for this object.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2024 Aug 2 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 15.9 magnitude on the morning of August 6 at a distance of 0.01 AU when the NEO will be traveling through Cetus at 91"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Aug 6 at 1800 EDT when the MP is predicted to be 16.3 magnitude traveling through Cetus at 110"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

This object won't be particularly bright, but since the close approach occurs when it's close to the celestial equator, both northern and southern hemisprheres may have a chance to observe it, timing and weather permitting.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Edit: It looks like objects this small (H=24.2) don't get added to the list of PHAs.

The MPC has updated the epoch of their MPCORB minor planet datafile from the epoch 2024 Mar 31.0 to 2024 Oct 17.0. I noticed the change when I downloaded MPCORB today. The 2024 Mar 31.0 epoch was still being used earlier this week, so the update is very recent.

SkyTools 4.1.11.10 Visual now shows 1371307 minor planets at the current epoch (2024 Aug 1) displayed at the bottom right of the Interactive Atlas.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEO, 2024 ON, will make a close approach on 2024-Sep-17 18:52±1_12:17 UT at  a distance of 0.00704 AU. This is another 'Rarity'=3 event this summer. Currently the Condition Code=9, so the orbit isn't well defined yet, but I thought that this event was worth a heads-up for any minor planet observers out there.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2024 Jul 30 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that 2024 ON will reach a peak brightness of 11.9 on 2024 Sep 17 at 1700 EDT at a distance of 1072.88k km traveling through Indus at 103"/minute. This is also the time (to the nearest hour) of the predicted close approach. This object will be best observed from the southern hemisphere, weather permitting, but it should be bright enough to be visible to northern hemisphere observers before and after close approach when the declination will be further north.

I'll post an update  when the orbit is better defined, as the uncertainty of the time of close approach is a day and a half at present. Usually the final value for the close approach time is very close to the predicted time; however, so don't expect too much difference.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, (523664) 2012 OD1 will make a close approach on 2024-Jul-28 02:47±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03822 AU moving with V Relative=23.69 km/sec, H=18.6 magnitude, diameter 0.346±0.092 km and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 3340 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.038042 AU. The solution date was 2024-Jul-18 10:14:42 PDT This Aten class NEO was discovered at La Sagra on 2012-07-19 by OAM.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2024 July 23 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that the close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Jul 27 2300 EDT when the NEO is 16.3 magnitude and 0.04 AU distant traveling through Ursa Major at 51"/minute. SkyTools predicts that the close approach won't be visible from Columbus, Ohio in a 13" telescope. Peak brightness of 15.8 magnitude occurs around midnight of 2024 July 31 when the MP will be traveling through Draco at 23"/minute. This will be a difficult MP to observe despite its 'Rarity'=2 rating by CNEOS.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered Amor class NEO, 2024 NS1, will make a close approach on 2024-Aug-02 00:13±01:02 UT at a distance of 0.01351 AU moving with V Relative=7.56 km/sec, H=24.2 magnitude, diameter 38 m - 86 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 10 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.0113268 AU. The solution date was 2024-Jul-16 05:48:48 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2024-07-03. The orbit is still uncertain with the Condition Code=8 and 1 hour uncertainty of close approach time.

Using MPC's elements for the epoch 2024 Jul 19 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.10 Visual predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 16.3 magnitude at close approach in Sagittarius when it will be below the horizon and still in daylight from Columbus, Ohio. This MP will be best observed from the southern hemisphere.

I'll update the information for this MP after the orbit has been better refined.

Phil S.

Hello,

It's been several years since I have actively been observing and I have forgotten how to add lists to Sky Tools 4. I am looking for the Herschel 400 and 2500 lists. Anyone know where I can find them an how to add them?