I just noticed today that the MPC has updated the epoch for MP orbits form 2023 Feb 25.0 to 2023 Sep 13.0. If you've downloaded the MP datafile MPCORB in SkyTools to get the orbit data for all of the MPs, you may want to get a fresh download with the updated elements for the new epoch of osculation. I don't know when the switch occurred.

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered NEO, 2023 PQ, will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-14 11:21±00:29 UT at a distance of 0.00506 AU with V Relative=14.80 km/sec, H=24.9 magnitude, diameter 27 m - 61 m, 'Rarity'=1. The Condition Code=8 with a 1 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00495742 AU. The first reported observation was by MAP, San Pedro de Atacama on 2023-08-10. This orbit should be refined further before close approach.

Using MPC's elements for NEOs at Today's Epoch for 2023 Aug 11 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach peak brightness of 16.1 magnitude on 2023 August 13 2300 EDT (August 14 0300 UT) at 878.9k km distance moving through Octans at 181"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predixcted to occur 2023 August 14 0700 EDT (1100 UT) at 758.6 k km moving through Volans at 234"/minute and 16.8 magnitude. This is a southern hemisphere object. The track looks like it will pass close to the South Celestial Pole (SCP), but in daylight.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this NEO:     

Hopefully the weather will cooperate.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

I have started a Comet Chasing Channel as a monthly companion to my Comet Chasing web page. I hope you will give it a watch. I have long been a comet chasing evangelist, and as always, I hope you will consider adding a comet or two to your observing list this month.

Here is the August video:

CNEOS predicts that the medium-sized NEO (6037) 1988 EG will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-23 08:18±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.04065 AU with V Relative=14.25 km/sec, H=19.0 magnitude, diameter 430 m - 960 m and 'Rarity'=2. The Condition Code=0 with a 12,960 day observation arc. This NEO has a well characterized orbit. The Earth MOID=0.0239426 AU. It's on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Aug 7 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude from the evening of August 17 in Vulpecula to August 20 in Lyra as the peak of the brightness curve is rather flat. On the evening of August 20 in Lyra the NEO is predicted to be traveling at 21"/minute. Close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on 2023 August 23 0400 EDT (0800 UT) with the MP at 15.3 magnitude traveling through Corona Borealis at 28.5"/minute, but undetectable on the horizon as seen from Columbus, Ohio.

It looks like August 22 ~1600 EDT (2000 UT) this NEO will pass within 1° of M13 in Hercules.

Here's the Object Info Dialog for this NEO:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

For the last 2 days the Minor Planet Center website has been offline.

The URL that I've been using to access their website is:

minorplanetcenter.net

SkyTools 4 Visual isn't able to download the MP data from the MPC either.

Does anyone know what's wrong?

TIA,

Phil S.

So I started a new visual observing video series, and in the second video I clumsily observe two comets.

I started a new Youtube channel for Visual Observing. Its called "Getting Out there with a Telescope."

There are two videos up. The first one was released before in a different form:

I created this animation of 12P over the course of a week.

CNEOS predicts that the NEO 2014 QL433 will make a close approach on 2023-Aug-04 10:05±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.03575 AU with V Relative=20.62 km/sec, H=19.9 magnitude, diameter 280 m - 630 m, 'Rarity'=1. The Condition Code=0 with a 2217 day observation arc. The Earth MOID=0.00961677 AU. This medium sized NEO has a well determined orbit. Currently it's not on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Objects.

Using MPC's elements for 2023 Jul 30 0000 UT, ST4v predicts that this NEO will reach a maximum brightness of 15.1 magnitude on 2023 Aug 6 0400 EDT (0800 UT) with the MP 0.04 AU distant traveling through Cetus at 35"/minute. The close approach (to the nearest hour) is predicted to occur on 2023 Aug 4 0600 EDT (1000 UT) when the NEO is predicted to be 15.8 magnitude moving through Eridanus at 48"/minute in twilight in Columbus, Ohio.. This MP is near the celestial equator so it should be visible from both the northern & southern hemispheres, weather permitting.

Here's the Object Info dialog for this MP:     

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello,

Whilst setting up to attempt to record the faint Globular Cluster UKS 1, I used HP 1 as a warmup target to get all the gear set up, aligned and calibrated. Both clusters were found in ST4 Imaging via the Database Power Search.

R.A.  17h31m05.0s Dec. -29°58'54" (2000) in Ophiuchus
Magnitude: 12.50
Size: 1.2'
 
Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5
Tak x0.8 Reducer/Flattener
ASI294MM Pro Camera, 4.63u Pixels.
 
A Plate Solve reported a FL of 2135mm (F10.1) at 0.447 arcsec/pixel.

• L: 60x60 secs
  
• R; 20x30 secs
  
• G; 20x30 secs
  
• B; 20x30 secs