CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2024 EG2 will make a close approach on 2024-Mar-12 02:11±00:04 UT at a distance of 0.00429 AU with a V relative=19.59 km/sec, H=25.8 magnitude, diameter of 19 m - 42 m and 'Rarity'=1. The orbit was calculated using a 5 day observation arc, Condition Code=8 and Earth MOID=0.00355922 AU. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2024-03-06.

Using elements downloaded from the Minor Planet Center (MPC) on 2024 March 7, ST4v predcts that 2024 EG2 will reach maximum brightness of 16.1 magnitude (to the nearest hour) on 2024 March 11 1600 EDT at 776.3 k km with the NEO moving through Hydra at 257"/min in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 March 11 2200 EDT at 643.2 k km moving through Canis Major at 383"/min and an estimated 16.7 magnitude.

This NEO is a fast one due to both the close approach distance and the high V relative velocity, although not as fast as 2024 EF which was a real screamer. Anyone wishing to observe this close approach should download the orbital elements from MPC in a few days after the orbit has been refined further with a longer observation arc. For even better accuracy download elements from JPL's HORIZONS website for the time near your observation time and edit the ST4v Minor Planet database to use those elements.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I'm having trouble optimizing the use of the four above mentioned columns.  I find that these have a huge potential for prioritizing and organizing my observations, but there seem to be some obstacles that are holding me back.

In particular, these columns do not carry over from the Planning tab to the Real Time tab or vice versa.

I would think that the rating column would be associated with the object.  But it seems to be associated with the object, tab, and observing list.  Why wouldn't a rating for an object always be associated with that object?  It would be nice, for example, if I could search for all items with a five-star rating to make a "best of" observing list or to use a rating when i was deciding what I wanted to view on an evening.

The priority, observing status, and check mark, it seems to me, ought to be associated with the object and observing list, but ought to carry forward from the planning tab to real time tab.  I'd like to be able to review a list in the nightly planner and to somehow mark certain objects to be ignored for observation when I get to the real time tab.  I could use priority, observing status, or check mark to do this if they were to carry forward from the planning tab to real time tab.

How can I mark an object during review of my nightly plan so that mark appears on the object in the real time tab?

Jeff

Hello,

I am trying to copy observation from one computer to another using a stx file but the Import Shared Data from File option from the main menu doesn't list the stx files on the folder. I did it before, looks it stopped working with some recent update. I am using 4.1.11.2. There is any other way to copy observations without synchronizing the whore data base what is overkill for just copying 1 or 2 observations.

Thanks,

Carles

CNEOS reports that the newly discovered minor planet 2024 EF will make a close approach on 2024-Mar-04 07:02±00:06 UT at a distance of 0.00039 AU. The NEO is predicted to be moving at 8.63 km/sec. H=28.8 magnitude, diameter is 4.5 m - 10 m and 'Rarity'=1. There's only a 1 day observation arc; however, the Condition Code=7, and the Earth MOID=0.000818429 AU. The initial reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2024-03-02.

Using orbital elements downloaded from the Minor Planet Center (MPC) on 2024 March 3, ST4v 4.0.11.02 predicts that 2024 EF will reach a maximum brightness of 13.9 magnitude on 2024 March 4 0100 EST when it will be traveling through Virgo at 20.4 "/sec as seen from the Columbus, Ohio area.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object:     

Since this NEO will be so close, anyone wishing to observe it should download the elements from MPC & calculate the ephemeris for their location. For the best accuracy download elements from JPL's HORIZONS website for the time of the close approach and upload those elements into SkyTools by editing the elements for 2024 EF in the MP database.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I would like to be able to limit the Observing Plan list by azimuth, between 5º and 170º, for example. The Asiair Pro platesolve has difficulties for objects close to 0º azimuth. I mainly do EAA and my observation window ends at 180º (I don't want to do meridian flip). The Observing Plan gives me objects outside this range and makes it difficult to see the ones that really interest me, filtering by azimuth would help a lot...
It would also be nice to be able to limit them by Altitude, between 30 and 70º, for example, I don't want to photograph at low or too high altitude.
Maybe this can be done, but I can't find a way.

Thanks for your attention

Hi Greg and the group. Sometimes I'm kind of slow figuring out how to use SkyTools to its best. I have the Messier list here in front of me. I specify (in Nightly Planner mode) that I want to try this marathon this Saturday night. This will be my fourth year to do the marathon... so I guess I have a bit of an idea of how I'd like to do it. I hope to start as soon as M77 and/or M74 come into view in my EAA screen. That should be around 7pm-ish. I was a fascinated with the idea that the "Generate Observing Plan" mode might keep me organized and on track... 2 minutes to find the next target... 3 minutes to observe, then on to the next target. So I put the hopeful times into the "From... to..." boxes... from 7pm to 7:30am. Then i click "Generate Observing Plan." 

First, I just want to make sure I understand the use of the "Altitude" field. With "Generate Observing Plan" checked, what should the altitude be informing me? What do you suppose these numbers in the Altitude field represent... It might be logical to assume that this is the altitude of the object at the time it's recommending i observe it, right?

Otherwise, the good news is... SkyTools is showing me proposed times for 88 of the 110 objects. But, if there is any bad news, it would be that it has completely left out the other objects that it doesn't think I should waste time seeing. So it seems to be leaving out some 22 objects without asking me. But it's a Messier Marathon. I have to try. How do I *force* SkyTools to show me what I want to see - my best chances of seeing the whole marathon??? In a way, this kind of goes back to my same weakness ... the same question I have so far in SkyTools. I can't get it to let *me* be the boss. How do I *force* SkyTools to show me the best case scenario of viewing all 110 objects?

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Doug

Hello

I've been away from Skytools for a while and need some help with the event finder and calendar.

I used to use the Calendar all the time, however I can no longer find it.  I've read the help sections on it, but still can't locate the button which will display the Calendar.

Also, every time I use the event finder it defaults to the Mesa Redonda Observatory.  Even after I have entered my own location and generated events.  If I switch to another tab and then return to the Event Finder, it again displays the Mesa Redonda Observatory.

I can't seem to delete that location, nor can I see a way to default the event finder to my location.

Any help with these two issues would be appreciated.

Thank you.

I am using ST4 v4.0.11.02, and imported several AL observing lists.

How to display Messier and Caldwell catalog numbers in the ST4 observing plan to cross-reference Astronomical League checklists, so that ST4 is useful for AL observing projects?

Messier numbers are searchable in ST4, but do not display as the target ID or alternate ID. For some reason Caldwell numbers (recognized by The Astronomical League, published by a respected astronomer) are not searchable in ST4.

All the Best!
David Stokes

We have a couple of guests in town staying with us this weekend. They're going to come with me tonight for an observing session with the scope, so I opened up SkyTools in hopes of using the Nightly Observing List Generator. I clicked Showpieces, asked for a "very large" list and clicked the "Create observing list" button. The list came up empty-handed. Then I saw the warning at the bottom: "If your results are empty, please check the date on the nightly planner to ensure that it is not near full moon." One way or another, I'm going to take these guests for an observing session. We all know that, even with a 74% moon, there are indeed objects in the sky that we can all still enjoy - and these guests can only come with me tonight. Using EAA, the 74% moon tonight will almost not even be a factor. Is there any way to override this setting - which renders the Nightly Observing List virtually useless for my needs today? May I request that, in the EAA version, can we add a checkbox that allows the user to "Ignore the impact of the moon"? Because - in this case, - it feels like yet another instance of the software thinking that it's smarter than the user. I say that because it is virtually saying to me, "It's not worth observing tonight." But it *is* worth observing tonight. If I'm out of line, please tell me. Maybe I just need to realize that there's a kind of philosophy behind SkyTools that is, in effect, trying to force me into a box that isn't compatible with my observing style. Maybe I shouldn't be bringing these issues up in the forum. Because there are bound to be other users who would just take SkyTools at its word and skip observing tonight completely. If I'm not that kind of observer, please tell me if I should just go find another targeting list/observing application.

Two questions regarding logging relating to Astronomical League Observing Programs:

1.  Most of the observing programs for the Astronomical League require information regarding observing conditions beyond that of just seeing and transparency.  Some require a notation of the weather and moon phase.  How can these be recorded in SkyTools?  I assume these should go in the "Observing Conditions" box in the log, but since the conditions generally are unchanged from observation to observation, entering these detailed conditions for each log entry becomes cumbersome and prone to error.  I suppose I can just copy and paste, but am wondering if there is an alternate place for this data (with the session, if session data could be printed with the log), or perhaps some other way to default the data.

2.  I do mostly EAA and record the image at the end of the observation.  For AL observing programs, this qualifies for the "image" version of the observing program which usually requires that an image be provided with the log.  To do so, the images can be provided electronically, but it is also permissible to send a printed copy of the image.  If I save a copy of the image with the object, is there a way that I can print the image with the log that is being printed?  Is there a way to associate an image directly with an observation?

I understand that you are working on an EAA version of SkyTools.  I'm really looking forward to that and have my credit card number ready to submit for purchase as soon as it's released.

Thanks,
Jeff