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: [attachment=3211]

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?

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2024 MT1 will make a close approach on 2024-Jul-08 01:11±00:41 UT at a distance of 0.01008 AU moving with V Relative=18.12 km/sec, H=23.1 magnitude, diameter 63 m - 140 m and 'Rarity'=2. There is a 2 day observation arc, the Condition Code=8 and the Earth MOID=0.00931689 AU. The solution date was 2024-Jul-01 04:42:02 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS Chile, Rio Hurtado on 2024-06-29. 

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2024 Jul 1 0000 UT, ST4v 1.11.10 predicts that this MP will reach a peak brightness of 15.1 magnitude on 2024 July 7 at 0100 EDT at 0.01 AU distance traveling through Ophiuchus at 85"/minute. It will be traveling even faster at close approach on the evening of July 7, but close approach occurs during twilight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Observers in Europe should have a good view then.

I'll post an update when CNEOS refines the orbit further and the close approach parameters are better defined. 

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello Greg,

I am working on some observing list for galaxy trios and galaxy groups. I found out that some trios are in my Supplemental Database, maybe I put them there years ago and I don´t remember or were imported form some observing list. I had been importing my data from ST2 to 3 and then to 4 so I am not sure where they are coming from.

With galaxy groups that are in the database like Hickson, ST can calculate the difficulty and other conditions, the magnitude is usually the brightest member magnitude and there is the size of the group and the number of members. It's possible to include those in the groups or trios entered in the supplemental database? Can it calculate the visibility just with the magnitude and knowing that is a group of galaxies, by an approximate superficial luminosity estimation?

Any suggestions about how to get sky tools to estimate visibility of galaxy groups that are not in the database as groups, the galaxies are there thought, but other that including the members one by one, which was my approach in the past.

Thanks. Clear skies,

Carles

• Visual: Fixed a problem with the Plan feature of the Nightly Planner that sometimes led to blank plans
  
• Imaging Smart Project Builder: the Auto choice was removed from the Binning selection because it was confusing and inconsistent with how other parts of SkyTools worked. When color composite mode is selected and Binx1, options will be presented that include Binx2 for color filters (RGB), just like the Auto selection did previously.
  
• Imaging Smart Project Builder: The "region" label for stellar objects (stars, quasars, minor planets, etc.) consisted of garbled characters.
  
• Imaging Schedule: a printed schedule sometimes overwrite one line with another.
  
• Imaging Scheduler: added a feature to copy the schedule to the Windows clipboard in addition to printing it
  
• Imaging 4.1: the help system has been improved for many new version 4.1 features or changes, and entering Gain Settings in particular.
  
• Various minor fixes
  

Is there an option available to transfer the calculated Scheduled workflow in the Schedular Tab into the Observation Tab ?

Currently I am manually entering the filter, number of subs and exposure times into the Observation Tab.

This would save time as well as human errors

   
   

See attachments

Although the uncertainty is high (8), this might be a keeper. The MPC and JPL don't seem to fully agree on elements and epoch, this could be one that is visible in plain telescopes.

Near close approach, it will be only ~18° altitude in my southern skies inside the Stinger of Scorpius, but moving near 4'/min at magnitude 9.66 June 29th, 02:00CDT.

With 18 obs over 43 days, discovered May 7th at Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala, the orbital els could get better by the close approach on July 29, 09:13CDT when it will be 15° below my horizon but moving 6.5'/min but mag 9.1 on the Sagittarius/Aquila border.

Kenneth Drake

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2024 LZ4 will make a close approach on 2024-Jun-16 03:55 ± < 00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00186 AU.

Good hunting,

Phil S.