CNEOS presicts that the large NEO, (439437) 2013 NK4, will make a close approach on 2024-Apr-15 14:51±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02177 AU moving with V Relative=16.49 km/sec, H=18.8 magnitude, diameter 460 m - 1.0 km and 'Rarity'=2. The orbit calculations were made with a 3634 day observation arc. The Condition Code=1 and the Earth MOID=0.0149312 AU. The solution date was 2024-Apr-09 17:48:20 PDT. This large minor planet is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids. The MOID for Venus is 0.00878 AU. Several close encounters with Venus are predicted in the next 100 years, but this is the closest approach to earth during that time.

Using MPC's orbital elements for 2024 Apr 9 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Apr 15 1100 EDT when the MP will be 0.02 AU distant moving through Hercules at 13 magnitude and 63"/minute, but in daylight as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Maximum brightness of 12.4 magnithde will occur on April 17 0300 EDT at 0.03 AU distance with the NEO moving through Serpens Caput at 42"/minute. This large NEO should be visible from Apr 13 at 15.8 magnitude (in Vulpecula, 32"/minute) to May 1 at 16.3 magnitude (in Virgo, 1.2"/minute), so there's plenty of time to observe this large rock.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object: [attachment=3066]

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2024 GJ2, will make a close approach on 2024-Apr-11 18:33±00:11 UT at a distance of 0.00013 AU moving at 14.37 km/sec with H=30.4 magnitude, diameter 2.2 m - 5.0 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is only a 1 day observation arc. The Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=5.35095E-5 AU with a solution date 2024-Apr-10 04:42:02 PDT. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 2, Haleakala on 2024-04-09.

Using MPC's elements for 2024 Apr 10 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that the close approach will occur (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Apr 11 1500 EDT at 25.86k km distance and 16.4 magnitude moving through Capricornus at 92.1"/second in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. Maximum brightness of 13.6 magnitude is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2024 Apr 11 at 1400 EDT with the NEO moving through Libra at 35.5"/second, again in daylight and below the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio. This object should be best from the southern hemisphere, especially Australia. It's a real screamer, too.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this object: [attachment=3065]

Since this object will pass very close, parallax will be an issue. Observers should download the latest elements from the MPC's NEAs at Today's Epoch or ideally from JPL's HORIZON website.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I was fortunate to observe the total solar eclipse on April 9 from Plain City, Ohio just north west of Columbus. There was quite a bit of excitement.

Here's an image of totality that I was able to capture: [attachment=3061]

There were a lot of cirrus clouds throughout the whole event, so the sky was never really clear. Still, it was a fantastic experience.

I hope that everyone else who tried to observe the eclipse was as lucky as I was.

Phil S.

I have just updated from SkyTools3 to SkyTools4.  I want to import my old data from version 3 to version 4.  I can settle for just importing my log entries, and can fill in the rest manually if I have to.
 
I have tried the protocol where I go into the Data Manager on version 3 and created a Sync Database file.  I then went into version 4 and, under the "Tools" heading, I click on "Sync Databases".  After that, using the section marked "Merge User Data from Another Computer" i browse to the file created by version 3 (entitled "SkyTools Sync").  I then click on the "Sync" button.  I get a very short interval where the little vertical bars appear appear on the bottom (probably no more than a second), and then the weird voice says "completed".  The program prompts me to restart the program.  But when I do restart it, there is no transferred data.
 
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?
 
Thanks.

Bernie Poskus

Version 4.x.11.03/04 brings an important update for SkyTools Imaging, the first of many to come. In addition there are many bug fixes.

CNEOS predicts that the large NEO, (517681) 2015 DE198, will make a close approach on 2024-Apr-15 14:08±<00:01 at a distance of 0.04699 AU moving at V Relative=14.18 km/sec, H=18.9 magnitude, diameter 440 m - 990 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of 2024 Feb 26 it had a 25919 day observation arc, a Condition Code=0 and Earth MOID=0.0439028 AU. The orbit is well defined.

Using elements downloaded from the MPC on 2024 Feb 26, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach maximum brightness of 15.8 magnitude on 2024 Apr 9 around 0100 EDT when the NEO will be 0.07 AU distant moving through Ursa Major at 11"/min. ST4v predicts that this MP is visible from dark skies from March 30 (16.6 magnitude in Canes Venatici, 3"/min) to Apr 12 (16.3 magnitude in Camelopardalis, 21"/min). The close approach occurs in daylight as seen from Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO: [attachment=3050]

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I can't find asteroid no. 2 Pallas no way. Everyone except him!

https://youtu.be/V5GpFshFVHY


Carlo

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO, 2020 BP13, will make a close approach on 2024-Apr-09 02:32±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03886 AU moving with V Relative=6.80 km/sec, H=21.1 magnitude, diameter 160 m - 350 m amd 'Rarity'=1. This NEO has a 3022 day observation arc and the Condition Code=0, so the orbit is well defined. The Earth MOID=0.0100175 AU. The solution date was 2024-Mar-28 05:47:42 PDT. Per the Minor Planet Center (MPC) the initial reported observation was by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2020-01-28. It's been observed over 5 oppositions.

Using orbital elements downloaded from the MPC for the epoch 2024 Mar 29 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 16.4 magnitude on 2024 April 8 2300 EDT moving through Ara at 14"/min, but below the horizon from Columbus, Ohio. This is a southern hemisphere object with a relatively flat light curve near maximum brightness. It's predicted to be brighter than 17th magnitude several days before and after closest approach.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO: [attachment=3046]

This object should require a large aperture to observe visually, but imagers should have an easier time detecting it as it's not moving too fast and shouldn't trail too badly.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO 2024 ER4 will make a close approach on 2024-Mar-17 09:14±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.00108 AU moving with V Relative=8.30 km/sec, H=27.4 magnitude, diameter 8.9 m - 20 m and 'Rarity'=1. There is a 2 day observation arc, theCondition Code=5 and the Earth MOID=0.000625347 AU. The solution date is 2024-Mar-16 06:12:02 PDT. The initial reported observation was by ATLAS South Africa, Sutherland on 2024-03-14.

This NEO was not included in today's download of the NEAs at Today's Epoch from the MPC, so I couldn't calculate the ephemeris. The MPC does have elements for the Epoch 2024 Mar 31, but they're after the close approach, so less useful. 

Phil S.